Post by Emma Verrier

As the week draws to a close, it does so with another heavy blow for independent education in North Wales. Today, both Ruthin School and St Gerard’s School close their doors. My heart goes out to every pupil, member of staff, parent and alumni whose lives have been touched by these remarkable schools. A school is so much more than its buildings. It is friendships, memories, opportunities, livelihoods and community. Today, two communities lose something that can never truly be replaced. When will the Llywodraeth Cymru / Welsh Government and our UK 🇬🇧 government recognise the devastating consequences these closures are having across Wales? Our schools are not vast institutions with limitless resources especially in Wales where there is simply not the wealth . Schools are often among the largest employers in their towns, supporting local economies and serving generations of families. In just a few short weeks, hundreds of people have lost their jobs and hundreds of children have been displaced into an already overstretched, underfunded and under-resourced state sector. This is no longer just an independent sector issue. It is an education issue. It is a community issue. It is an economic issue. It is a Wales issue. And it cannot continue. Finally, a big thank you to some of those within the WISC community who have quietly reached out to support schools, colleagues and families during these incredibly difficult times, thank you. You know who you are. Your compassion and generosity have meant more than you will ever know, and your kindness has not gone unnoticed. Diolch! 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 Rhun ap Iorwerth Estyn Mary Hughes Richard Murray St David's College Myddelton College Michael Pearson Independent Schools Council Keir Starmer Rt Hon Rachel Reeves Darren Millar Mims Davies MP for East Grinstead, Uckfield and villages