The latest stage in ambitious plans to transform secondary education in Swansea is being discussed by the Council’s Cabinet on Thursday.
The Cabinet is being asked to consider a move that would bring forward proposals to close Daniel James Community School, which has been placed in Special Measures by schools’ inspectorate Estyn.
Mike Day, Cabinet Member for Education, said the proposal to close Daniel James Community School, first aired last year, is driven by the need to support the welfare of pupils and to improve the standard of education for those who live in the school’s catchment area.
He said that if the school was closed pupils would be transferred to other schools which have higher quality teaching and where pupils achieve more.
Pupils will also have continued access to community facilities and will continue to benefit from opportunities for support from a range of different agencies.
He said: “We believe that, regardless of where they live, every child should expect to be given the opportunity to improve outcomes and to raise their educational aspirations and expectations. The Council believes this can be achieved if we close Daniel James and pupils go to better-performing schools.”
Cllr Day added: “We’re in no doubt pupils must be safe and feel safe, cared for and supported. Agencies such as the schools, the Council’s education department, child and family social services and the police are working together to achieve this.
“But, as the school’s recent Estyn inspection report says, the learning experiences at the school are not meeting the needs of pupils or the wider community.
“Exam results show young people who currently attend Daniel James are not getting the kind of exam results in core subjects like English and Maths which will stand them in good stead for the future.”
If Cabinet approves the measure it will form part of Swansea’s QEd 2020 vision for the future of education in the city which will be submitted to the Welsh Assembly Government (WAG) in December.
As Daniel James is in special measures, the Council is required to follow a fast-track consultation process should Cabinet agree to proceed at the meeting this week.
The process would begin with a one-month consultation with the school, its staff, parents, pupils and other interested individuals and organisations between October 1 and November 1.
The views and comments received during the consultation period will be considered and reported to Cabinet by December 2010.
If Cabinet decide to proceed, a statutory notice would be published with a one calendar month formal objection period. If there were any objections the decision would be made by the Education Minister of the Welsh Assembly Government.
Subject to this process from September 2011 all pupils except for Year 11 would attend their new designated school. Year 11 pupils would remain at the school to complete their GCSE year and the school would close on August 31, 2012.
Cllr Day said: “Any school closure will bring with it a measure of disruption. It’s important to the Council and the other agencies involved that it’s kept to the bare minimum, especially for those in their final exam year. And that’s why, if the closure proposal is finally approved, it’s sensible for Year 11 to stay for their final year.”
