Residents to get say on plans to demolish school

DETAILS of the proposals to demolish Cantonian High school and rebuild it on the same site with two special schools in the same grounds are to be put out to public consultation.

Cardiff council wants to expand the Fairwater school as part of the plans, which it is hoped would come into effect by September 2023.

As part of the proposals, the school will expand from six to eight forms of entry, with sixth form provision for up to 250 pupils.

Cantonian’s specialist resource base for pupils with autism would be expanded from 20 to 30 places.

Woodlands Special School would be transferred to the Doyle Avenue site and its capacity would be increased from 140 places to 240 places.

Riverbank Special School would also transfer to the site, and its capacity would be increased from 70 to 140 places.

Cardiff council’s cabinet agreed yesterday to hold a public consultation on the plans.

The plan is being put forward amid rising demand for school places and additional learning needs education in Cardiff, and a significant backlog of maintenance in its school buildings.

Other schools will also be rebuilt including Willows and Fitzalan and separate proposals are being developed for those sites.

The council is facing a maintenance backlog in its education estate of around £68m – and says a large number of its primary, secondary and special schools are in a poor state of repair.

This is despite £17m being spent on the maintenance and condition issues of school buildings through Band A of the 21st Century Schools investment programme.

To prioritise schools under Band B of the investment programme, all education estate properties are given ratings of A to D, judged on the sufficiency of places available, condition of school buildings and suitability of the teaching environment.

All three schools have been given ‘D’ ratings, the worst available – Cantonian for the condition of its buildings, which the council says are “lifeexpired”, and Woodlands and Riverbank are also rated ‘D’ for having “unsuitable” learning environments.

The Welsh Government, which is leading the 21st Century Schools investment scheme, is aiming to remove all ‘D’ condition schools in Wales.

Cantonian High School’s site is around 27 acres – making it one of the largest school sites in Cardiff.

Councillor Joe Boyle, leader of the Liberal Democrats on the council,