Agenda item

The Committee considered a report detailing a proposal to review primary education provision in the Blaenau and Llandybie areas.

The Authority has a legal responsibility to review the number and type of schools it has in an area and whether it is making the best use of resources and facilities to deliver the opportunities that children deserve.

Ysgol Gynradd Blaenau is a Welsh medium, community primary school located in the village of Blaenau with capacity for 99 pupils aged between 4-11 years. In recent years, pupil numbers at the school have declined. In January 2020 there were 34 pupils at the school meaning that there were 65 surplus places or 66%. Welsh Government, through the School Organisation Code, advises Local Authorities to review their provision where there are more than 10% surplus places in an area.  Based on current pupil projections it was estimated that the pupil figures will remain low in the foreseeable future. Additionally, the condition of the school building was poor and the school has been in deficit since 2011/12 and remains with a deficit of £83,895 for 2019/20. Their original funding allocation for 2020/21 was £149k and their forecast position for the year is an increase to the deficit balance.

From an educational perspective having such a small number of pupils and mixed age classes makes it extremely difficult for the school to deliver the breadth and depth of curricular and social experiences which pupils of this age require to fully develop. The culmination of these unavoidable facts presents a school model which does not represent a sound, stable educational model or best use of resources. With no prospect of there being a significant increase in pupil numbers for the foreseeable future consideration regarding the sustainability of the school was required.

Ysgol Gynradd Llandybie is a transitional (working towards Welsh medium) 3-11 primary school located in the rural village of Llandybie.  It is a successful school which by January 2019 had reached its capacity and although there was a slight decrease in pupils at January 2020 this trend was likely to continue for the foreseeable future based on current pupil projections. As a result the Local Authority is developing a scheme to increase the capacity of Ysgol Gynradd Llandybie to 315 places with 45 nursery places by providing a new school on a new site with facilities fit for the 21st Century. The project will re-locate Ysgol Gynradd Llandybie from its current site to a new site which is within the current catchment area of Ysgol Gynradd Llandybie. The new school will provide a Welsh Government standard primary school building with capacity to accommodate 315 pupils and 45 nursery pupils between the ages of 3-11 years old and ensure that the school is able to deliver the full curriculum in modern, safe and inspiring learning environments with enhanced outside areas.

This proposed investment will address poor building condition and lack of adequate space and provision in the existing school by providing a category A school with sufficient places for current and projected demand.  Over the last 5 years there has been a sustained increase in the number of pupils choosing to enter the Welsh medium stream and a fall in the number of pupils choosing to enter the English stream.

The Local Authority has a responsibility to provide all pupils with the best education possible and believes that providing bilingual opportunities has a role to play in this. This aligns with Carmarthenshire’s Welsh in Education Strategic Plan objective of ensuring that all pupils are able to speak, read and write the Welsh language fluently by the end of Key Stage 2 in accordance with their expected stage of development.The best way to create confident, bilingual individuals is through immersing pupils in the Welsh language and as a result the Local Authority is looking to change the nature of provision. As a result of the ongoing challenges that both schools face, it was not possible to sustain current arrangements and a review of the education provision within the areas of Blaenau and Llandybie was required.

It was therefore proposed:-

-       To discontinue Ysgol Gynradd Blaenau as of 31^st  August 2021;

-       From 1^st September 2021 all pupils will be registered at Ysgol Llandybie operating on both sites (Ysgol Gynradd Llandybie and the former Ysgol Gynradd Blaenau) increasing its capacity to 287 + 50 nursery places;

-       Re-designate Ysgol Gynradd Llandybie’s catchment area to include that of the former Ysgol Gynradd Blaenau catchment area as of 1^st September 2021;

-       Change the nature of provision at Ysgol Gynradd Llandybie to Welsh Medium as of 1^st September 2021;

-       Relocate Ysgol Gynradd Llandybie to a new school site and increase its capacity to 315 + 45 nursery places as of September 2024, when occupation of the new school is proposed.

The transitional capacity noted above (287 + 50 nursery places) combines both schools’ current capacity including nursery places. As a result, the nursery places in the transitional capacity is greater than the final school’s capacity. The final capacity figure (315 + 45 nursery places) meets the need and demand of the area for the longer term. It is the Authority’s intention that all current pupils remain at the school and continue to receive their education through the current language. It is important to note that there will be no change for current pupils attending Ysgol Llandybie.

RESOLVED

12.1    that the proposal to review primary education provision in the Blaenau and Llandybie areas, as detailed in the report, be       endorsed;

12.2    that it be recommended to the Executive Board that a formal     consultation process be initiated.