Plan for new £15m school to replace primaries is approved
PLANS to close two primary schools and create a new £15m one in Rhondda Cynon Taf have been given final approval.
On Wednesday, June 22, cabinet approved plans to amalgamate Cefn Primary School and Craig yr Hesg Primary School in Glyncoch.
This will see the two schools closed and the opening of a new, bigger community primary school to replace them.
One objection was received to the proposal when the council published the notice of the plans, but the recommendation was that the council goes forward with the plans with no amendments.
The cabinet report said one of the reasons for the proposal is to “increase capacity and improve the quality of the English-medium primary education provision available to learners in Glyncoch”.
It is estimated that about £15m is needed to build the new school, which will be funded by the council and Welsh Government’s Sustainable Communities for Learning Programme, with the latter contribution being worth 81%.
The council will have to part-fund (35%) the capital costs of fit-out, including furniture and IT.
The council said the site that will be used to accommodate the new school will incorporate the existing Craig yr Hesg School, as well as the land adjacent to it (formerly the Ty Gwyn site).
It said the adjacent land is not large enough to accommodate a school without using the existing site.
The one objection to the plans said there is a strong feeling in this area that there is no Welsh-medium primary school to meet its needs.
It said: “When the authority decided to close Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg Pont Sion Norton, campaigners were clear about the need for a Welsh-medium school for the area of Ynysybwl, Glyncoch, Coed-y-cwm, Trallwng and Cilfynydd. The council was asked to consider this site for such a school, also noting its perfect location for public transport.
“If the council commits itself to the target of one million Welsh-speakers, what better way than to meet the need by changing the new school into a Welsh-medium school or at least initially one with a growing Welsh stream?
“Has consideration been given to this, working with local campaigners and ensuring equal access to Welsh-medium education in this part of the county?”
In response, the council said it is “fully committed” in supporting the Welsh Government in achieving its Cymraeg 2050 target of creating one million Welsh-speakers.
The council said the new Welsh-medium primary school, which will open in September 2024 in Rhydyfelin, “has been designed to accommodate all pupils that wish to pursue a Welsh-medium education from the areas listed”.
“We have also ensured that there has been additional capacity designed into the new school to accommodate growth in the number of pupils attending to further support the Welsh Government’s overarching Cymraeg 2050 outcome,” the council added.
The council explained the reason for delivering a new English-medium school in Glyncoch, saying the existing school buildings at Cefn and Craig yr Hesg primary schools require “significant repairs and are no longer fit for purpose”, with collective outstanding maintenance costs of more than £783,000.
The council said the age and construction of the buildings prevent either school from having any significant upgrades which would allow them to be deemed a “21st Century Schools provision”.
It said the site of Cefn Primary and the school building itself is not accessible and does not comply with the Equality Act and that Craig yr Hesg Primary also requires significant improvement to comply.
The council said the new school will be fully accessible and would include new outdoor facilities like a multi-use games area, as well as being designed to be an energy-efficient “net zero carbon” building.
The report says: “The proposal to amalgamate Cefn and Craig yr Hesg primary schools by way of closing the two existing primary schools and opening a new, bigger community primary school will significantly improve English-medium primary education in Glyncoch.
“A new 21st Century school with first-class facilities will create a learning environment which nurtures and supports pupils and staff, it will deliver exciting opportunities for the community-focused schools’ agenda, and will also support us in realising our net zero carbon targets.”
Councillor Rhys Lewis said it was “fantastic” that the council is proposing a new school built to modern standards which will assist teachers and pupils deliver the new curriculum, adding that it is “excellent for Glyncoch and the wider catchment area”.
Councillor Doug Williams, Labour, who represents Glyncoch on the council, welcomed the report, saying both schools are at capacity and that the majority of people in Glyncoch welcome this school and can’t wait for it to open.
But Councillor Amanda Ellis, Plaid Cymru, who represents Ynysybwl, said parents have concerns about moving Welsh-medium education with the closure of Ysgol Pont Sion Norton and the building of a new Welsh-medium school in Rhydyfelin at the current Heol y Celyn site.
She urged the council to consider new Welsh-medium provision in this area and raised concerns about travel to the new school in Rhydyfelin and the increase costs to families of this.
She asked how this was ensuring equity of access and choice and how it lined up with targets.
She said: “I urge council to reconsider by committing to develop Welsh-medium education access at this site.”
A council officer said they are not behind their targets and they have a strategy to meet them.
Councillor Maureen Webber said the new building at Heol y Celyn will “greatly increase” the number of Welsh learners.
She said she is “fully supportive” of the proposal and said: “Our young people deserve the best education provision and environment that we can provide them with, and this school will go some way to doing that.”