A Chepstow councillor has publicly questioned the lack of progress on future education plans for Chepstow School and the wider Chepstow cluster of schools, warning that local pupils risk being left behind while investment and development had already moved forward elsewhere in Monmouthshire.

During a recent council meeting, Cllr Edwards asked the Cabinet Member for Education to provide an update on progress made since a meeting with Chepstow councillors in July last year regarding the long-term future of Chepstow’s education provision.

Cllr Edwards said he had first raised the issue around three and a half years ago, noting that the only developments relating to Chepstow schools at that time were legacy plans put in place by the previous administration.

Christopher Edwards, local county councillor for St Kingsmark, Chepstow, said: “I’m extremely pleased that Chepstow School has grown significantly in stature over recent years thanks to strong and dedicated leadership. Academic results are now the best in the county and well above the Welsh average. However, the success of pupils and staff must now be matched by improvements to the school’s facilities. This simply isn’t fair on the young people of Chepstow who deserve the same level of investment and ambition for their facilities as pupils elsewhere in the county.”

He called on the council to provide clear milestones and progress before the end of the current academic year, and by the end of the current council administration’s term of office.

Cllr Edwards concluded by saying: “It has now been nearly four years since the start of this council administration and nearly eight months since the meeting with local councillors. What we need now is clarity. Firstly, in what progress will be achieved before the end of this academic term, and secondly, what tangible steps will be taken to move forward with future plans for Chepstow School and the wider Chepstow cluster of schools before this council term ends in May 2027.”

At the meeting, the Cabinet Member for Education, Cllr Wright said: “The education department has been remarkably busy this term with the Estyn inspection, but I can assure you that Chepstow does remain a key priority for Monmouthshire in the Welsh Government’s rolling programme of school investment. Our officers are working closely with Welsh Government to establish timelines and business cases, and I do hope to meet with headteachers in the Chepstow cluster and with Chepstow Town Council representatives to allow us to engage and understand the thoughts of people in and around the town. All our ambitions for Chepstow School will have to be balanced against financial pressures that the authority faces and rising costs of construction.”

The Chepstow cluster of schools is a partnership in Monmouthshire, focused on fostering a cohesive educational continuum from primary to secondary level, centered around Chepstow School. It includes several partner primary schools that collaborate on curriculum, Welsh language development, and best practices.

Schools include: The Dell Primary School, Thornwell Primary School, Shirenewton Primary School, Pembroke Primary School, St Mary's RC Primary School.