Agenda item
PROPOSAL TO CLOSE YSGOL RHEWL AS OF 31 AUGUST 2017 AND TRANSFER EXISTING PUPILS TO YSGOL PEN BARRAS, RUTHIN OR RHOS STREET SCHOOL, RUTHN SUBJECT TO PARENTAL PREFERENCE
- Meeting of Cabinet, Tuesday, 29 September 2015 10.00 am (Item 5.)
- View the declarations of interest for item 5.
To consider a report by Councillor Eryl Williams, Lead Member for Education (copy enclosed) presenting the objection report for consideration and seeking Cabinet approval of the proposal.
Decision:
RESOLVED that Cabinet –
(a) note the findings of the objection report;
(b) following consideration of the above, Cabinet approve implementation of the proposal to close Ysgol Rhewl on the 31 August 2017 with existing pupils transferring to the new school building of Ysgol Pen Barras, Ruthin or Rhos Street School, Ruthin subject to parental preference, and
(c) that applications for discretionary transport to the nearest category 2 school, be considered on a case by case by case basis, from existing pupils of Ysgol Rhewl and their siblings for the remainder of their primary education.
Minutes:
Councillor Eryl
Williams presented the report detailing the objections received following
publication of the Statutory Notice to close Ysgol Rhewl with pupils transferring to Ysgol
Pen Barras or Rhos Street School
subject to parental preference, together with factors to be considered prior to
determining the proposal.
The proposal for Ysgol
Rhewl had been made in the context of the wider
Ruthin area review taking into account the suitability and condition of school
sites and surplus places and the impact on the long term sustainability of the
school. Cabinet was reminded that
Performance Scrutiny Committee had recommended further work be undertaken
during the consultation process to address concerns raised relating to the new Glasdir site and the Welsh Language offer. The findings of that work had been included
at Appendix D and E to the report.
Councillor Merfyn Parry (local member) raised concerns over the adequacy
of that supplementary work in terms of consultation highlighting the lack of
information provided by officers in order to inform meaningful debate at
meetings and the difficulties in convening meetings due to the availability of
key individuals. He felt appropriate
consultation had not been undertaken, adding that there had been no discussion
whatsoever on the latest proposal to provide discretionary transport to the
nearest category 2 school. Consequently
Councillor Parry asked that the matter be deferred pending further consultation
with stakeholders. Cabinet sought
assurances regarding the supplementary work as directed by scrutiny and
officers reported upon a timetable of communication culminating in the findings
as detailed in Appendix D and E to the report.
Cabinet considered the process of engagement to be robust and that
sufficient information had been provided to enable a fully informed decision.
Councillor Williams drew members’ attention to
the report and statutory processes to be followed. Cabinet considered the objections detailed
within the report together with the arguments for the proposal and factors
detailed in the School Organisation Code.
Members paid particular attention to issues raised relating to the new Glasdir site and Welsh Language impact as the main areas of
concern –
(1) Concerns
relating to the new site at Glasdir
Concerns had been raised regarding road safety
and feasibility of the development.
Two road safety assessments had been undertaken
on 14/08/15 (school holiday) and 15/09/15 (school term) which found that the
current route for pupils walking from Rhewl to Glasdir was not hazardous.
The assessment did not take into account any future development and
Cabinet sought assurances as to the future safety of the route and ensuring
appropriate traffic control measures were in place prior to the new schools’
opening. The need to clarify the 30 mph
speed limit for motorists travelling into Ruthin was also raised. Officers provided assurances that route
safety was a top priority which would be kept under close review. Traffic and transport assessments would
continue throughout the site development as circumstances changed to ensure any
safety issues were identified.
Regarding the feasibility of the development to
accommodate pupils assurances were provided that proposed capacity of the two
new schools would allow sufficient room for growth. The proposal linked the transfer of pupils
from Ysgol Rhewl to the new
schools at Glasdir and pupils would not be expected
to move twice in the event of any delay in the site development process. Cabinet agreed that the intention to transfer
pupils to the new schools be made clear in the resolution.
(2) Concerns
relating to the impact on the Welsh Language offer
Concerns had been raised that the current Welsh
Language offer could not be replicated if pupils moved to either of the new
schools. Councillor Merfyn Parry
reiterated those concerns and whilst noting the latest proposal to provide an
option to transfer pupils to the nearest category 2 school he remained
concerned about the lack of consultation and detail provided to test whether it
was a robust option and he raised questions in that regard. Cabinet also sought assurances that the three
curriculum offers for pupils in terms of Welsh medium, English medium and dual
stream settings provided at least equivalent standards and opportunities for
progression in their current language medium.
Officers responded to those issues as follows –
·
further context was
provided to the current language offer in the area and the extent of Welsh
Language delivered in a range of settings which demonstrated suitable
alternative provision. The current
proposal allowed parents to choose three types of setting in order for pupils
to maintain their current language medium – Welsh medium (Pen Barras), English medium (Rhos
Street) and Dual stream (Llanfair Dyffryn
Clwyd). As a result pupils would not be
disadvantaged in terms of standards and opportunities for progression in their
current language medium if the proposal was implemented
·
if Cabinet approved
the proposal officers would discuss school preferences with parents and
capacity would be built into the new Glasdir site
schools and the proposals for the new area category 2 school. Officers were confident that all three
schools had capacity to accommodate parental preferences for pupils
transferring from Ysgol Rhewl
·
with regard to the
transport element for the category 2 school officers explained that the Home to
School Transport Policy allowed for the provision of discretionary transport in
cases of school closure. Cabinet was
advised that the Head of Education would look favourably upon applications made
as a result of the closure of Ysgol Rhewl and confirmed that this discretion could be extended
to siblings of existing pupils – members agreed that this element be further
clarified as appropriate within their resolution.
Councillor Williams moved the recommendation
with amendments in order to clarify that the transfer of pupils would coincide
with opening of the new school buildings and that applications for
discretionary transport to the nearest category 2 school would also be
considered from siblings of existing pupils.
Cabinet was satisfied that the proposal presented the best option to
ensure a high standard of school provision for the future.
RESOLVED that Cabinet –
(a) note the findings of the objection report;
(b) following consideration of the above, Cabinet approve implementation of the proposal to close Ysgol Rhewl on the 31 August 2017 with existing pupils transferring to the new school building of Ysgol Pen Barras, Ruthin or Rhos Street School, Ruthin subject to parental preference, and
(c) that applications for discretionary transport to the nearest category 2 school, be considered on a case by case by case basis, from existing pupils of Ysgol Rhewl and their siblings for the remainder of their primary education.
At this juncture (10.55 a.m.) the meeting
adjourned for a refreshment break.
Supporting documents:
- YSGOL RHEWL, item 5. PDF 168 KB
- YSGOL RHEWL - APP 1, item 5. PDF 375 KB
- YSGOL RHEWL - APP 1(A), item 5. PDF 1 MB
- YSGOL RHEWL - APP 1(B), item 5. PDF 1 MB
- YSGOL RHEWL - APP 1(C), item 5. PDF 223 KB
- YSGOL RHEWL - APP 1(D), item 5. PDF 537 KB
- YSGOL RHEWL - APP 1(E), item 5. PDF 295 KB
- YSGOL RHEWL - APP 2, item 5. PDF 379 KB
- YSGOL RHEWL - APP 3, item 5. PDF 121 KB
- YSGOL RHEWL - APP 4, item 5. PDF 146 KB