Cyflwynwyd gan:Cyng / Cllr Gareth Thomas
Decision:
-
To approve the proposal to
close Ysgol Glanadda and Ysgol Babanod Coedmawr on 31 August 2020, and offer
places to the pupils at Ysgol y Garnedd (subject to parental choice); and increase
the capacity of Ysgol y Garnedd to 420.
-
To approve the publication
of statutory notices on the above-mentioned proposal in accordance with the
requirements of Section 48 of the Schools Standards and Organisation (Wales)
Act 2013.
Minutes:
The item was submitted by Cllr Gareth Roberts
RESOLVED
-
To approve the proposal to
close Ysgol Glanadda and Ysgol Babanod Coed Mawr on 31 August 2020, and offer
places to the pupils at Ysgol y Garnedd (subject to parental choice); and
increase the capacity of Ysgol y Garnedd to 420.
-
To approve the issue of
statutory notices on the above-mentioned proposal in accordance with the
requirements of Section 48 of the Schools Standards and Organisation (Wales)
Act 2013.
DISCUSSION
The report was submitted noting that the department had
secured a £12.7 million investment to modernise educational provision in
Bangor. It was noted that it was an opportunity to improve the available
provision. It was added that during the Cabinet meeting held in March that it
had been decided that it would be possible to carry out a statutory
consultation on the proposal to close Ysgol Glanadda and Ysgol Coed Mawr and
offer places to the pupils at Ysgol y Garnedd.
It was noted that the responses had raised concerns about
traffic issues. It was noted that there would be a specific plan to look at
this and there would be further discussions on the matter. Concerns were
expressed about Language matters and about the continuation of the Welsh
language ethos at Ysgol y Garnedd, but it was added that the response from
Estyn noted that Ysgol y Garnedd had been successful in promoting and using the
Welsh language at school.
It was mentioned that the Acting Head teacher at Ysgol
Glanadda and Coed Mawr from September onwards would allocate 50% of her time to
teaching and consequently there was a need to rationalise the provision that
was currently available.
The Local Member noted that he disagreed with the idea of
pursuing option 3 rather than option 10. He noted that both schools would be on
a single site in September, and they were in a building of very good quality.
He added that Glanadda had made significant progress in the use of the Welsh
language and that both schools had recently moved to higher coloured bands.
The comments were answered noting that the department was
seeking to reduce empty spaces at schools and ensure that 80% of the head
teachers’ time was freed up. It was added that a high number of children in the
Coed Mawr area attended other schools in the catchment, rather than Ysgol Coed
Mawr and Glanadda.
A Local Member noted that the residents of Penrhos Avenue
were not happy with the possibility of their road being used to build the new
school. It was noted that the road was
busy with pedestrians and it was not possible to get a Recycling Van there, let
alone lorries transporting building materials. It was noted that this was a
planning matter and that no decision had been made on which road would be used
to reach the new school site. These comments would be considered when looking
at the planning matters.
Observations arising from the
discussion
-
It was noted that the consultation numbers were
low, and it was asked where Ysgol y Faenol fitted into the full picture. It was
noted that Ysgol y Faenol was an integral part of the plan to modernise
education in Bangor, but it was a different procedure as it was a school that
was associated with the Church in Wales. There was some risk to running both
schemes separately, however it was not substantial given the benefit that would
also derive for Ysgol y Faenol.
It was expressed that the school’s new site would have 1,200
children as Ysgol Friars was also located on the same land. But it was noted
that the standard of the Ysgol y Garnedd building was unacceptable, and was no
longer fit for purpose. It was added that there was need for a new resource to
improve the quality of education and provide pupils with better opportunities
Awdur:Diane Jones
Supporting documents: