School closures set for approval
PLANS to close two primary schools and create a new £15m one are set to be given the green light.
Rhondda Cynon Taf Council’s cabinet will consider giving final approving to plans to amalgamate Cefn Primary School and Craig yr Hesg Primary School in Glyncoch.
This will see the two current 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 is that it goes forward with the plans with no amendments.
The cabinet report for the meeting next Wednesday says 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 around £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 Welsh Government’s contribution being worth 81%.
The council will have to part fund (35%) the capital costs on fit out including furniture and IT.
The council said that the site that will be used to accommodate the new school will incorporate the existing Craig yr Hesg School site as well as the land adjacent to it (formerly the Ty Gwyn site).
It said that the land adjacent to the school is not large enough to accommodate a school without using the existing school site.
Cabinet agreed to consult on the proposals back in December 2021 and in March 2022 cabinet agree to publish a statutory notice of the proposals with a period of objections running from April 4 to May 11.
The one objection said there was a strong feeling in the area that there was no Welsh-medium primary school to meet the needs of the area.
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 said.
The council explained the reason for delivering a new English medium school in Glyncoch saying that 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.