Cardiff Council Executive is to consider the next steps in the reorganisation of secondary schools in the Ely and Caerau areas of the city.
Following a full public consultation on a proposal to amalgamate Glyn Derw High School and Michaelston Community College, including public meetings, drop-in sessions and exhibitions, the Executive will receive a report on the feedback gathered during the consultation and consider the way forward at its next meeting on Thursday, July 15.
The proposal to amalgamate Glyn Derw High School and Michaelston Community College addresses the problem of surplus places while consolidating and investing in English-medium secondary provision in this area of the city. In order to comply with Assembly regulations, this would be achieved through the proposed closure of Glyn Derw High School and Michaelston Community College and the opening of a replacement school of 10 forms of entry on the existing two sites with effect from September 2011.
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.
The proposal would see a reduction from the combined current capacity of approximately 11.4 forms of entry to 10 forms of entry. All current pupils would transfer to the roll of the new school.
There would also be a proposed capital investment of £8m into the school if a bid to the Welsh Assembly Government is successful.
During the consultation period, the possibility of establishing a federation between the schools was raised and it was requested that this option be explored and if considered viable, appropriate consultation with stakeholders be undertaken.
In consideration of this development and the consultation responses, officers are recommending that the Executive consider agreeing to:
(1) instruct officers to establish whether the Governing Bodies of Glyn Derw High School and Michaelston Community College wish to consult on a proposed federation to include the reduction in size of the two schools to 10FE collectively and the proposed investment as outlined in the amalgamation consultation.
(2) if no agreement is reached on (1) by 15 September 2010, to instruct officers to proceed with the publication of a statutory notice to amalgamate Glyn Derw High School and Michaelston Community College as a 10 form of entry school on their existing two sites.
