Agenda item

To consider a report by Councillor Eryl Williams, Lead Member for Education (copy enclosed) detailing the findings of the formal consultation for the future of Ysgol Llanfair and Ysgol Pentrecelyn and seeking Cabinet approval to publish the required statutory proposals for the closure of both schools and creation of a new area school.

RESOLVED that Cabinet –

(a)       note the findings of the formal consultation for the closure of Ysgol Llanfair and Ysgol Pentrecelyn and the opening of a new area school on the two existing sites;

(b)       approve the publication of a statutory notice for Denbighshire County Council to close Ysgol Llanfair DC and Ysgol Pentrecelyn on 31 August 2016; and the Church in Wales to establish a new Voluntary Controlled Area School on the existing sites from 1 September 2016, and

(c)        note the option for parents to apply to send their children to Ysgol Pen Barras as an alternative school should they wish their children to remain within a Category 1 school.

Councillor Eryl Williams presented the report detailing the findings of the formal consultation for the future of Ysgol Llanfair and Ysgol Pentrecelyn and seeking Cabinet approval to publish the required statutory proposals for the closure of both schools and creation of a new area school.  It was proposed that the new area school would be Language Category 2 (dual stream) and designated a Voluntary Controlled Church in Wales school.  The new area school would utilise the existing sites until it was consolidated on one site in a new build.

Councillor Williams explained the context of the proposal as part of the wider Ruthin area schools review to safeguard the future sustainability of education provision in the area.  The main area of contention was the proposed categorisation of the new school.  Most consultation respondents from Ysgol Llanfair supported a Category 2 school whilst respondents from Ysgol Pentrecelyn wanted Category 1 (Welsh Medium).  In considering the consultation responses it was important to balance the needs of both Welsh and English speaking families.  There was a risk that parents of non-Welsh speaking families would choose to send pupils to English medium schools if the new area school was Category 1.  Consequently Councillor Williams considered Category 2 the best option for maintaining and potentially growing the number of pupils assessed through the medium of Welsh and leaving school fluent in both languages.  Both schools retained a strong Welsh ethos and culture with all pupils leaving school fluent in both languages and he was confident this would continue in the new area school.

Cabinet considered the consultation responses and arguments in respect of the proposal and sought clarification around the language categorisation definitions within schools and expected outcomes.  Questions were also raised regarding the religious designation, capital investment and financial implications; together with the viability of the proposed school should parents boycott the new area school.  As local member the Leader reported upon his personal links with the two communities and success of both schools.  He highlighted the importance of weighing up all the information presented in order to deliver the best possible outcome for education provision in the area.  He also raised questions regarding the ethos of the new school and reasons for not pursuing other suggested options for local provision.

The following responses were given to the issues raised –

·         the context to the categorisation process was explained and reference made to the Welsh Government guidance document (2007) in order to define schools according to Welsh medium provision.  Reference was also made to the Welsh Government’s Welsh-medium Education Strategy (2010) with regard to bilingual education.  It was noted that Welsh medium stream pupils in Category 2 schools were required to achieve the same outcomes as pupils in Category 1 schools.  The majority of pupils from Ysgol Llanfair transferred into the Welsh stream at secondary school.  Councillor Huw Jones highlighted the importance of growing the number of Welsh speakers with the aim of all pupils leaving school confident in both languages – he supported a Category 2 school to facilitate this process

·         the consultation had been carried out in partnership with the Church in Wales St. Asaph Diocese who supported the proposal for a Category 2 Voluntary Controlled Church in Wales school

·         in terms of the future sustainability of an area school officers advised if all parents from Ysgol Pentrecelyn (35 pupils) sought alternative Category 1 provision the school would still be a viable proposition.  Ysgol Llanfair (94 pupils) supported a Category 2 school and there would be a big risk in terms of viability if the proposal was changed to Category 1

·         if parents wished to send their children to the nearest alternative Category 1 school capacity could be built in to the new school building for Ysgol Pen Barras and applications would be considered in line with the admissions policy

·         members’ attention was drawn to paragraph 4.9 within the report detailing the governance arrangements and safeguards to ensure the current strong ethos and Welsh status was maintained in the new school

·         officers elaborated upon the suggested options put forward by Ysgol Pentrecelyn and why they had been discounted as the best option for the area.

Councillor Arwel Roberts spoke in favour of a Category 1 designation for the new area school.  He felt the future of the Welsh Language was under threat and the language categorisation proposal would be contrary to the Welsh Government’s Education Strategy.  He also raised questions regarding school transport and pupil outcomes.  Councillor Huw Hilditch-Roberts was keen for a compromise acceptable to both schools and raised questions regarding the statutory processes and language categorisations.  Councillor Meirick Davies sought further clarification on a number of points raised within the consultation responses.  The following responses were provided to the issues raised –

·         the reasoning behind the proposal for a Category 2 school was reiterated as a means of expanding the Welsh Language

·         it was acknowledged a change in leadership would always provide a risk but assurances were given in terms of measures in place to safeguard against the dilution of future Welsh medium provision in the new area school

·         the eligibility criteria for school transport provision was explained, particularly in terms of both language and faith school categorisations

·         the statutory process was explained should Cabinet decide to publish the notice for school closure – there was a risk that any future challenge could impact negatively on the potential to build a new area school

·         designating the new area school a Church school was not considered a risk with little objection to that element of the proposal

·         a response had been provided to all points raised during the consultation and the reasoning behind the different school categorisations in other area reviews was clarified

·         Councillor Huw Jones reported upon the Welsh in Education Strategic Plan and how Denbighshire aimed to increase the number of Welsh speakers within the county – he provided some statistics to demonstrate the increase in Welsh standards within schools over recent years.

Having considered the findings of the consultation and responses to issues raised, and bearing in mind there was no difference in outcomes for pupils in both schools, Cabinet supported the proposal as a means of ensuring the best possible education provision for pupils in the area.  The Leader thanked members for their contribution to debate highlighting the need to support the Welsh Language and make it accessible for everyone by providing an opportunity for non-Welsh speakers to learn.  The Council could not maintain the current number of schools within the county and had a duty to deliver the best possible education provision within the area.  He hoped the creation of a new area school would bring both communities together to that end.

RESOLVED that Cabinet –

(a)       note the findings of the formal consultation for the closure of Ysgol Llanfair and Ysgol Pentrecelyn and the opening of a new area school on the two existing sites;

(b)       approve the publication of a statutory notice for Denbighshire County Council to close Ysgol Llanfair DC and Ysgol Pentrecelyn on 31 August 2016; and the Church in Wales to establish a new Voluntary Controlled Area School on the existing sites from 1 September 2016, and

(c)        note the option for parents to apply to send their children to Ysgol Pen Barras as an alternative school should they wish their children to remain within a Category 1 school.

At this juncture (3.40 p.m.) the meeting adjourned for a refreshment break.