Govilon School, Govilon

This is a tragic tale of a super school. Govilon is situated to the west of the Head of the Valley's Highway just out of Abergavenny. That means this is a village school not a city school. Exciting!

But it's so sad, this school is fantastic, I really loved it and felt so welcomed by the kids and staff ( one even made me a card ) but this is probably the last year the school will be open. Monmouthshire Local Authority made the decision last year to close it and although the locals are fighting it parents have got cold feet and the roll has dropped from 80 to just 28. My class had just 6 students in it, I've never taught less than 30 in New Zealand so to be in a school smaller than that was a treat I won't forget.
Because of the drop of numbers the school is almost certainly condemed to being closed, especially because teachers are looked after by the council in this situation, but head teachers are not , So Rob ( I've met him making it 2 headteachers I've met now) has made the hard decision to move on in January. Nobody holds it against him, how can they but it's another nail in the coffin of Govilon School.
Anyway the kids there are fantastic and so happy, I went on a school trip with them to the pools in Abergavenny and as it's Harvest I popped up to the local chapel with them. I got to meet the village priest who was a top bloke also. The kids seemed genuinly sad to see me go and again I hope to get back there if I get the chance. One year 3 introduced me to his Mum because he was desperate for me to meet her (she doubles as his mum and the school dinner lady).