Cardiff Council’s Schools Sub Committee has agreed to recommend to the Executive a proposal to consult on a plan to meet the growing demand for Welsh-medium primary education in the Canton area of the city.
To meet the rising demand for Welsh-medium education and in response to the First Minister’s rejection of a previous proposal to close Lansdowne Primary School and relocate Ysgol Treganna onto the Lansdowne site as a two-form entry primary school, officers have developed a plan to build a new, £9m state-of-the-art Welsh-medium primary school on Council-owned land off Sanatorium Road.
The proposal would involve Ysgol Treganna transferring to the new premises as a three form of entry Welsh-medium primary school with nursery while Ysgol Tan yr Eos would close with pupils transferring to the enlarged Ysgol Treganna once on the new site.
The growing demand for Welsh medium education in this area has been compounded by the fact that the population has been rising in the west of the city over the last three years. Officers have developed this proposal as a matter of urgency to respond to these issues and now believe that the only option available is to build a new school.
No existing English-medium provision will be closed or reduced in capacity as a result of this proposal.
The Schools Sub Committee, which is made up of representatives from the four main political parties and key stakeholders, was established to explore the options for reorganising schools across the city as the Council faces the challenging issues of matching the supply of school places to local demand, the unprecedented demand for Welsh medium-education and ageing school buildings.
Officers presented the proposal to the committee on Friday October 22 when they decided to formally recommend the proposal to the Executive for consideration.
Leader of Cardiff Council and chair of the Schools Sub Committee, Cllr Rodney Berman, said: “I’m really pleased we have been able to take another step forward towards delivering a new Welsh-medium primary school in Canton to alleviate the pressures faced by the existing schools in the area and to meet the increasing demand for Welsh-medium provision.
“This proposal, which would create a brand new school with excellent modern facilities, is an absolute priority for us. We understand the uncertainty that has been facing parents and the local community over the future of Ysgol Treganna and we want give our reassurances that our commitment to resolve this issue and provide the best possible educational opportunities for the city’s children remains strong.”
