School merge in Ely and Caerau
Discussions on the future of two schools in Ely and Caerau will come into focus this Thursday as the council's executive members decide on the next steps for reorganisation in the area.
In the meeting, the council will receive a report following consultations on the proposal to merge Michaelston Community college and Glyn Derw High School. The plan is to reduce the current 11.4 forms to a 10-form school on the existing two sites starting September 2011, according to Assembly regulations.
In the lead up to the meeting, Cardiff Council said the proposals were there to address the number of surplus places at the schools, and increase provision for English-medium schools in the area. Cardiff Council said:
"Many secondary schools in Cardiff are experiencing falling rolls and there are currently about 8,850 surplus places in the city's schools which are costing the Council valuable resources.
"The combined number of surplus places at Glyn Derw, which serves the Caerau community, and Michaelston, which serves the Ely community, amounts to 30 per cent of the combined capacity and with projections indicating a trend of pupil numbers falling further, a possible threat to the viability of the schools is likely to increase if nothing is done."
It was proposed in the consultation period that the option for a federation between the schools be looked into. Officers have recommended the executive to continue with a statutory notice of the merge if no agreement is met by 15 September.
Welsh-medium provision in Splott
At Thursday's meeting the council's executive will also consider recommendations to go ahead with extending Ysgol Glan Morfa, in Splott, to provide Welsh-medium nursery provision.
There is a demand for Welsh-medium nursery provision in the city, and the responses to these proposals will be presented to the executive in a report, with recommendations from officers to publish a statutory notice to extend the age limit of entry to Ysgol Glan Morfa by January 2011 to provide nursery education.
Cardiff Council said:
"The aim of the proposal is to further enhance the educational opportunities for local children and meet the Council's aspiration of creating all-through primary schools, catering for children aged 3 to 11.
"The proposal would achieve a better match between the supply and demand for quality Welsh-medium nursery education in the area and enable Ysgol Glan Morfa to offer provision across the whole Foundation Phase for three to seven-year-olds."
What do you think of the propsed reorganisation in these areas and the rest of the city? Leave your comments below.
