A major shake-up of education in schools in Pontypridd, which will see a number of schools closing and new ones being built in a £37.4m programme, has been approved.
Rhonnda Cynon Taf council’s cabinet voted in favour of the plans at a meeting on Thursday, March 21, after a three-hour debate which involved hearing from parents, students and teachers opposed to the changes.
In total about 4,000 children will be affected.
The changes involve the closures of Pontypridd High School, Cilfynydd Primary School, Hawthorn Primary and Hawthorn High School, Heol-y-Celyn Primary School, Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg Pont Sion Norton, and the closure of sixth forms at Hawthorn High, Pontypridd High and Cardinal Newman RC Comprehensive.
Instead there will be a new three-16 school built on the site of Pontypridd High School, a new three-16 school built on the sites of Hawthorn Primary and Hawthorn High School sites, a new Welsh medium primary where Heol-y-Celyn currently is and new sixth form centres at Bryncelynnog Comprehensive in Beddau and Coleg y Cymoedd in Nantgarw.
Planned changes to the school catchment area of Gwauncelyn Primary School in Tonteg were scrapped.
And the school will now remain in the catchment area of Bryncelynnog Comprehensive School rather than changing to Hawthorn High School.
Cabinet members say the sixth forms were proposed for closure due to their low retention rates, restricted choice of subjects for students and financial deficits.
They said YGG Pont Sion Norton was an old Victorian building which was inaccessible being built on a steep slope, had transport issues and didn’t have any grass areas to play, only hard-surface areas.
Councillor Stephen Belzak, Independent councillor for Cilfynydd, said the 336-page report on the plans was “fatally flawed”.
He said: “It doesn’t present a convincing case for such a momentous change.”
Trallwng ward Councillor Mike Powell (Liberal Democrats) suggested there should be a two-day public inquiry so people could have their say.
However, cabinet members unanimously voted in favour of the proposals.
Councillor Robert Bevan, cabinet member for enterprise development, said: “As someone who has experienced the 21st Century programme in the Rhondda the concerns were very similar.
“However the transition is starting to bed in and it’s proving to be a success.
“We have schools offering the three-16 provision which are over-subscribed now. I do think the proposals are taking education in the right direction.
“Changes in education are dramatic, particularly with the digital era and pupils needing better facilities, environments and a more comprehensive education.
“These proposals are right for this council and right for pupils in the long-term.”
And cabinet member for education Joy Rosser said: “We all want the same thing, we want to provide quality learning experiences for pupils with access to 21st Century resources.
“We can’t remain static in an evolving world, change is inevitable.”
She said a viable sixth form should have 250 students, while Hawthorn High and Pontypridd High had less than that between them, and subjects were restricted with small classes.
She added that the creation of three-16 schools would remove the need for transition between primary and secondary schools, and the new Welsh-medium school would replace a poor, existing building and provide additional learning places to encourage rather than discourage learners.
The vote comes after a public consultation began on the plans in October – 2,168 responses were received.
The decisions will now be subject to a formal 28-day period for objections, which ends on May 10.
Any proposals which affect sixth form education must be approved by the Welsh Ministers.
However, the Welsh Government has already confirmed it will only determine the proposal relating to the removal of the sixth form from Cardinal Newman RC Comprehensive School.The council wants to implement the changes by the end of August 2022.
School closures and new builds will still be subject to Welsh Government approval of the final business cases for the 21st Century Schools Programme projects.
The £37.4m programme is being funding via a 65% contribution from Welsh Government.
The council’s 35% share of the capital costs will be met through prudential borrowing.
