• Decision details
  • Decision details

    Decision status: Recommendations Approved

    Is Key decision?: No

    Is subject to call in?: Yes

    Decisions:

    The Director, Education and Inclusion Services provided the Cabinet with an update on the actions outlined in Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council’s Welsh in Education Strategic Plan (WESP) for the period between 2017 and 2020 as approved by the Welsh Government on the 15th of March 2018. It was noted that the previous 2019 to 2020 annual update was due to be the last annual update for this WESP, however, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, this WESP had been extended to cover the period between 2020 to 2021.

     

    Members were informed that Welsh Government had changed some of the regulations relating to the WESP, including the Welsh in Education Strategic Plan (Wales) Regulations 2019 and the Welsh in Education Strategic Plans (Wales) (Amendment) (Coronavirus) Regulations 2020. The two key changes in relation to the regulations were highlighted to Members:

    ·      The extension of the duration of the WESP from its current three year implementation cycle to a ten year implementation cycle (2022 to 2032); and 

    ·      The removal of the current duty on Local Authorities to plan their provision of Welsh medium education based on demand with the requirement that Local Authorities achieve targets set by the WG, which aim to increase the percentage of year one learners in Welsh medium education over the duration of the WESP.

    The Director drew Members’ attention to the table at Section 5.2 of the report, which outlined the total percentage of statutory school aged learners who access their learning through Welsh Medium Primary, Middle and Secondary Schools and noted that RCTCBC had the highest percentage across each of the five Local Authority areas that comprise the CSC JES for the previous three academic years.

     

    The Director advised that the majority of the Welsh medium primary schools in the County Borough of RCT currently have surplus places, which was currently 28.1% in Welsh medium primary schools. The Director went on to speak of the small capacity pressures within the Welsh medium primary schools and advised that the actions taken to address the issues were outlined at Section 5.7 of the report. An example of this was the Council’s commitment to invest £3.69 million at Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg Aberdar to provide a further 48 places. Furthermore, the Council had invested a further £4 million on increasing the quality and availability of early years Welsh medium provision co-located on primary school sites.

     

    The Cabinet Member for Education & Inclusion Services thanked the Director for the Annual Report, which had been challenged by the Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee on the 27th January 2021. The Cabinet Member was pleased to note the many investments made by the Council and in particular, the commitment made to early years Welsh medium provision, which enables progression onto Welsh medium primary schools.

     

    The Cabinet Member was of the view that report clearly evidenced the Local Authority’s commitment to support the actions outlined within the WESP and to contribute to Welsh Government’s vision of one million people in Wales being Welsh speakers by 2050.

     

    The Cabinet Member for Adult Community Services & Welsh Language welcomed the report and emphasised the importance of the WESP as a strategic document for the Local Authority and community alike. The Cabinet Member spoke of the recent announcement to postpone the National Eisteddfod, in light of the continuing effects of the COVID-19 global pandemic and the restrictions in place on the hosting of public events and social gatherings. The Cabinet Member looked forward to welcoming the prestigious event to RCT in 2024.

     

    The Cabinet Member for Corporate Services reiterated previous comments and was pleased to note the substantial funding to increase Welsh medium school capacity, in addition to the millions already invested in the 21st Century Schools Programme.

     

    With the permission of the Chair, County Borough Councillor H Fychan and Ms K Hadley (Public Speaker) spoke on this item.

     

    The Leader acknowledged the comments made and the concerns raised about the impact the virus was having on children on non-Welsh speaking families. The Leader advised that he would be discussing support catch up with Ministers through the WLGA later that day, and hoped that through the budget setting, additional funding would be made to schools, including Welsh medium schools.

     

    In terms of a point made about the need for the Council to engage with individuals on the 21st Century Schools Programme, the Leader confirmed that he and the Cabinet Member for Education and Inclusion Services had committed to meet with parents to discuss future plans to alleviate any concerns.

     

    The Cabinet RESOLVED:

    1.    To note the contents of this report; and

    2.    To consider and agree the annual update provided within this report.

     

     

     

    Publication date: 28/01/2021

    Date of decision: 28/01/2021

    Decided at meeting: 28/01/2021 - Cabinet

    Effective from: 04/02/2021

    Accompanying Documents: