Relief as future of Llandovery College is secured (From South Wales Guardian)

Relief as future of Llandovery College is secured

6:10am Thursday 9th August 2012 in News

THE future of Llandovery College as one of Wales’s leading independent schools is secure, staff, pupils and parents have been assured.

According to a statement, the new company – Coleg Llanymddyfri Cymru – set up to run the college following a period of financial uncertainty, is now fully operational and staff have been issued with new contracts for September.

Llandovery College’s headmaster, Guy Ayling, who took up the post in April, said it had been necessary to restructure operations in order to safeguard the long-term future of the school.

The college had been battling with historic debts.

“Recent events have made the college stronger and have secured an extremely bright future,” he said.

“This has been a difficult time but staff, pupils and parents have shown an inspirational resolve and the college can only go from strength to strength fromnowon.

“The transition from old company to newhas been smooth and we will open as usual on September 3 for the Michaelmas term with our full range of services and facilities.

“In fact, we confidently expect to see an increase of seven per cent in pupil numbers.”

The new company is being spearheaded by Old Llandoverians.

Llandovery College is one of Wales’s oldest and most-respected independent schools, catering for more than 300 boarders and day pupils aged from four to 18.

In a single year, 24 students played at national level in more than 17 sports.

Four of the school’s former pupils – George North, Alun Wyn Jones, Andy Powell and Rhodri Jones – are currently in the Welsh rugby squad.