The Welsh Assembly Government (WAG) has formally agreed Cardiff Council’s plans to reorganise secondary education in the east of the city.
The final decision was passed to the Minister for Children, Education and Lifelong Learning, Leighton Andrews AM, following objections received by the Council to a statutory notice detailing the proposed changes. This followed a full public consultation on the plans.
The plans approved by the Assembly are:
To discontinue Llanrumney and Rumney High School and to establish a new secondary school on part of the fields known as the Rumney Recreation Ground, between Llanrumney Avenue and Newport Road, Llanrumney, Cardiff.
As would be the case for any proposal involving new build, the Council will need to obtain planning consent.
As noted in the proposal to WAG, it is anticipated that the new school would be ready in the school year 2012/2013.
The Council has been examining the way schools are organised right across the city to develop an education system that offers the best possible opportunities to raise standards of achievement in viable and successful schools.
The Council faces the challenging issues of surplus school places, falling pupil numbers, ageing school buildings and meeting the increasing demand for Welsh-medium education in Cardiff.
The Schools Sub Committee, which is made up of representatives from the four main political parties and key stakeholders, was established to consider the options for reorganising schools. The Council’s Executive then agreed to take those proposals out to public consultation and a full consultation exercise was undertaken.
Executive Member for Education and Lifelong Learning, Councillor Freda Salway, said: “The Council has been facing the issue of surplus places in schools, which is a waste of valuable resources that could otherwise be channelled into children’s education. In addition to this, there is a backlog of repairs in our school buildings that means children are being educated in surroundings that are not fit-for-purpose.
“The plan for the reorganisation of schools in the east of the city will deliver a brand new, 21st Century secondary school for the children of that area and will remove a large number of surplus places.
“The leisure facilities will also be considerably upgraded bringing benefits to the whole community. I welcome the Minister’s decision and am pleased we can now progress with these plans.”
Chief Officer for Schools and Lifelong Learning, Chris Jones, said: “This is very good news for education in Cardiff, particularly for the east of the city. This decision will facilitate not only improved educational provision for young learners but also offer a range of additional opportunities for others in the community.
“This will also be welcomed by teachers and others who work with learners; they too will have the benefit of state-of-the-art facilities. Our priority now is to work with both the existing school communities to ensure that the transition to the new school is smooth.”
