Decision details

The Director of Education and Inclusion Services provided Members with a detailed overview of the outcome of the recent publication of four Statutory Notices in respect of proposals to reorganise primary schools, secondary schools and sixth form provision in the greater Pontypridd area.  Members were reminded that the four Statutory Notices related to:

·         The alteration of the age range of pupils that may be admitted to Cardinal Newman RC Comprehensive School, from 11 – 19 years to 11 – 16 years, resulting in the removal of the sixth form provision by September 2022;

·         The closure of Pontypridd High School and Cilfynydd Primary School and the creation of a new 3 – 16 ‘all through’ school on the site of the current Pontypridd High School by September 2022.  There will be no sixth form provision at this school;

·         The closure of Hawthorn High School and Hawthorn Primary School and the creation of a new 3 – 16 ‘all through’ school on the site of the current Hawthorn High and Hawthorn Primary Schools by September 2022, with the Local Authority designated ALN specialist class located in Hawthorn High School, as well as the current pupils receiving education through the medium of English at Heol y Celyn Primary School transferring to the new school.  There will be no sixth form provision at this school;

·         The closure of Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg Pont Sion Norton and Heol y Celyn Primary School and the opening of a new Welsh medium Primary School on the site of the current Heol y Celyn Primary School by September 2022.

The Director commented that the rationale for the proposals for change as consulted upon were well documented in the consultation document which was circulated widely in line with the requirements of the School Organisation Code and for the benefit of the Cabinet the Director further commented on the rationale for the proposals in turn, highlighting factors in relation to 6^th Form Changes; Creation of 3-16 all-through schools and  Welsh Medium Proposals.

Members were advised that the four statutory notices were published on 30th April 2019, with the period for receipt of objections ending on 31st May 2019, as in accordance with the School Organisation Code. A total of 435 objections were received during this period and all had been reviewed by Cabinet Members prior to the meeting.    

The Director informed the Cabinet that the Equality, Community and Welsh Language Impact Assessments undertaken had been reviewed for the purpose of the report and also highlighted how the proposals considered in the report contributed to all 7 well-being goals within the Future Generation (Wales) Act 2015 with due regard made to the Five Ways of Working, as contained within the Wellbeing of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015.

The Cabinet Member for Education and Inclusion Services thanked the Director for the report and commented upon the background to the report and the strong rationale for the proposals, the benefits of change and the evidence to support the proposals.  The Cabinet Member commented on the low retention rates, class sizes, surplus places, high financial deficits, school locations and backlog maintenance of buildings focusing the need for change.  The Cabinet Member reiterated that the focus for all was to ensure that the Council delivered the best learning opportunities to the young people of the County Borough, commenting that the need for change was inevitable. The Cabinet Member also referenced that the arrangements identified within the proposals allowed for education provision to be more viable and have a greater, positive impact on learner outcomes with purpose built new buildings and remodelling works. She added that the proposals would provide access to a greater range of choices and opportunities for post-16 learners by making sixth form arrangements more effective and viable. The Cabinet Member also confirmed that the 435 responses received had been made available for all Cabinet Members to review prior to the meeting.

At this juncture in the meeting the Leader welcomed the following County Borough Councillors and Members of the Public to address the Cabinet to which Member and officers responded:

·         County Borough Councillors: H Fychan; M Powell, S Belzak and L Hooper

·         Members of the Public: Reverend Williams, Miss B Lisles and Ms H Gulliford.

The Leader asked for clarification in respect of the monitoring being undertaken at Pontypridd High School in respect of air quality and the Director, Public Health & Protection advised that the initial results following the 6 monthly review, indicated that the results were significantly less than the limits set within the Welsh Government’s Air Quality Objective.

The Leader also confirmed with Officers that as safety was of paramount importance, a robust traffic impact assessment would be undertaken for all of the proposals, which would include an assessment of the walking routes and all recommendations would be implemented.

The Deputy Leader thanked Officers for the confirmation in respect of the traffic impact assessment and spoke of how the Council had gone above and beyond the requirements of the School Organisational Code with opportunities for engagement.  The Deputy Leader reiterated that any decision taken would be based upon delivering the best education opportunities that the Council could provide for the younger generation, and again referenced Members having due regard to the  Equality Impact Assessment.

The Cabinet Member for Welsh Language commented upon the proposals from a Welsh medium perspective, commenting that the proposals provided greater Welsh-medium capacity in the greater Pontypridd area and would deliver significant investment in education facilities, referencing previous investment in Welsh medium provision across the County Borough over recent years.  The Cabinet Member spoke of the broader strategy of the Council as outlined within its Welsh in Education Strategic Plan (WESP) and advised that the Council would continue to improve access to Welsh medium provision across the County Borough.

The Cabinet Member for Education & Inclusion Services thanked everyone for their contributions to the meeting and for those that had submitted responses to the statutory notices.  The Member reiterated that any decision taken in respect of the proposal would be based on the best learning outcomes for the young people of the County Borough, ensuring that learners had access to learning environments that were fit for the 21^st Century. The Cabinet Member referenced a quote by John Dewey and the need to invest in the future for the benefit of learners.  The Cabinet Member also referenced the Welsh Government target of 1 million welsh speakers, adding that the proposals if taken forward would encourage Welsh medium growth. The Cabinet Member concluded her summary by referencing the Equality, Community and Welsh language impact assessment commenting that no issues had been identified.

Following detailed discussions it was RESOLVED:

1.    To note the information contained within the Objection Report in Appendix A of the report,  which includes a summary of the 435 objections received during the statutory notice period, and the comments provided in response to the objections and Appendices B-D being the Community, Equality and Welsh Language Impact Assessments.

2.    To implement the proposals as published in three of the Statutory Notices which would:

·         Close Pontypridd High School and Cilfynydd Primary School and create a new 3 – 16 ‘all through’ school on the site of the current Pontypridd High School by September 2022.  There will be no sixth form provision at this school;

·         Close Hawthorn High School and Hawthorn Primary School and create a new 3 – 16 ‘all through’ school on the site of the current Hawthorn High and Hawthorn Primary Schools by September 2022, with the Local Authority designated ALN specialist class located in Hawthorn High School, as well as the current pupils receiving education through the medium of English at Heol y Celyn Primary School, transferring to the new school.  There will be no sixth form provision at this school;

·         Close Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg Pont Sion Norton and Heol y Celyn Primary School and open a new Welsh medium primary school on the site of the current Heol y Celyn Primary School by September 2022.

3.    The associated catchment changes detailed in the explanatory notes to the Statutory Notices - such catchment changes becoming effective from 1^st September 2022. This excludes the proposed change to the catchment area of Bryncelynnog Comprehensive School as agreed by Cabinet on 21^st March 2019 which was not included within the Statutory Notices.

4.    To note that as previously reported, the School Organisation Code makes provision for local authorities to determine their own statutory proposals, with the exception of the proposal relating to Cardinal Newman RC Comprehensive School. The Cardinal Newman RC Comprehensive School proposal relates only to the removal of the sixth form, the implementation (or non-implementation) of which will not prevent or undermine the effective implementation of the other proposals. In accordance with the School Organisation Code this has been referred to Welsh Ministers for determination.

5.    To note that a separate report on funding arrangements would be presented to Council in due course which would also be subject to approval by Welsh Government.

6.    To note that following the decision to proceed with the proposal to construct a new Welsh medium primary, a separate report to establish a new ALN learning support class at the new Welsh medium school would be presented in due course.

N.B.

·         As referenced in Minute 13, a number of Declarations of Interest were made pertaining to this agenda item, including a prejudicial interest by Councillor A Crimmings who left the meeting while this item was discussed and voted upon.

·         Following conclusion of this item the following Members left the meeting:

Councillors S Belzak;  G Davies;  M Diamond;  H Fychan; E Griffiths;  L Hooper;  M Powell and  M Weaver.

·         The Leader called for a short adjournment in the meeting following consideration of this item.