City of Cardiff Council Cyngor Dinas Caerdydd Cabinet Meeting
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CITY OF CARDIFF COUNCIL CYNGOR DINAS CAERDYDD CABINET MEETING: 18 SEPTEMBER 2014 SCHOOL ORGANISATION PROPOSALS: THE PROVISION OFADDITIONAL ENGLISH-MEDIUM AND WELSH-MEDIUM PRIMARY SCHOOL PLACES IN AND AROUND THE LLANISHEN AREA REPORT OF DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION AND LIFELONG LEARNING AGENDA ITEM: 12 PORTFOLIO: EDUCATION & SKILLS (COUNCILLOR JULIA MAGILL) Reason for this Report 1. This report is to inform the Cabinet of the responses received following consultation on options to provide additional English-medium and Welsh- medium primary school places in and around the Llanishen area. The report presents an evaluation of the consultation responses and seeks permission from Cabinet to initiate statutory consultation. Background 2. At its meeting on 10 April 2014 the Cabinet received a report outlining recommendations to respond to demand for English-medium and Welsh- medium primary school places in and around the Llanishen area. Expansion of English-medium provision 3. The Cabinet authorised officers to consult on the following options to provide additional English-medium primary school places in the Llanishen area with implementation commencing from 2015: Option 1 To increase the capacity of Coed Glas Primary School from 2 Form Entry to 2.5 Form Entry (FE) with additional nursery places in permanent accommodation to meet increasing local demand for English-medium primary education from September 2015. Ton Yr Ywen Primary School would remain at 2 Form Entry. OR Page 1 of 21 Option 2 To increase the capacity of Ton yr Ywen Primary School from 2 Form Entry to 2.5 Form Entry with nursery places in permanent accommodation to meet increasing local demand for English-medium primary education from September 2015. Coed Glas Primary School would remain at 2 Form Entry. Expansion of Welsh-medium provision 4. The Cabinet authorised officers to consult on a proposal to increase the capacity of Ysgol Y Wern from 2 Form Entry to 2.5 Form Entry with an additional 8FTE nursery places to meet increasing local demand for Welsh-medium primary places from September 2015. Issues 5. The consultation ran from 16 June to 28 July 2014. 6. Parents and others in the local community, together with staff and Governors of the affected schools were invited to respond to the consultation. Officers in partnership with school staff engaged in discussion with pupils from Coed Glas Primary School, Ton Yr Ywen Primary School and Ysgol Y Wern to involve them in the consultation process and to obtain their thoughts and views. 7. The consultation process involved: o distribution of a Consultation Document, outlining background, rationale and implications. This document has been distributed to parents, local childcare providers, Heads and Chairs of Governors of nearby schools, all Members and other stakeholders. The documents offered consultees the opportunity to comment on the proposals; o a series of meetings, for staff and governors of each school and for the public, at which the proposals were explained and questions answered; o public drop in sessions where officers were available to answer questions. o In addition, workshop sessions were arranged with local primary age children to provide an opportunity for pupils to ask questions and learn more about the proposal and give their views. The Pupil consultation methodology is attached as Appendix 1. o a consultation response slip for return by post or e-mail, attached to the consultation document. o online response form at www.cardiff.gov.uk/21stcenturyschools Page 2 of 21 8. The views expressed at Council organised meetings and on paper or electronically through the appropriate channels, have been recorded. In total, 3 public meetings and 3 drop in sessions were held as part of the consultation to ensure a wide and proper process of engagement. 9. In total 99 online responses and 90 paper responses were received. 10. Formal written responses were received from Coed Glas Primary School, Ton yr Ywen Primary School, Ysgol y Wern, Birchgrove Primary School, Llanishen Fach Primary School, Estyn, local Members RhAG and responses were also received from parents and members of the public. Local Members Consultation 11. Local Members were consulted prior to the publication of the consultation document, and all Elected Members were sent the document in electronic and hard copy detailing dates of drop in sessions and meeting dates at the beginning of the consultation. 12. Formal responses are attached as Appendix 2. Responses received during the consultation period 13. Views and concerns expressed on options for increasing English- medium and Welsh-medium provision in and around the Llanishen area were noted following the drop in sessions, public meetings and sessions with school pupils, as well as through the response form and online survey. 14. In respect of the proposed provision of additional English-medium primary school places in the area, the majority view expressed during the consultation at meetings and in written correspondence was one of general support; however a number of concerns regarding the proposal were also raised. 15. Of those who stated an option preference, 17 respondees indicated a preference for Option 1 (increase capacity of Coed Glas Primary School), 21 respondees indicated a preference for Option 2 (increase capacity of Ton yr Ywen) and 29 respondees expressed that they liked both options equally. 16. There was however considerable objection to the expansion of Ton yr Ywen Primary School to 2.5FE from those who attended the public meeting on 23 June. A joint response on behalf of those who attended indicated a unanimous consensus against the proposal. Additionally the Governing Body of Ton yr Ywen Primary expressed concerns about the expansion of the school to 2.5FE and would prefer to see the school expanded by an additional full form of entry to 3FE if expansion were to proceed at the school. 17. Coed Glas Primary School submitted a response advising that the school does not oppose a permanent increase to the school’s standard Page 3 of 21 admission number from September 2015. However, there were a number of concerns raised regarding the proposal to increase the admission number to 75 rather than 90. 18. In respect of the proposed provision of additional Welsh-medium primary school places in the area, the majority view expressed during the consultation at meetings and in written correspondence was one of general support to provide more places at Ysgol y Wern. However there is strong opposition to the proposal to expanding Ysgol y Wern by half a form of entry to 2.5FE and preference stated for expanding the school to 3FE. 19. The concerns expressed are set out below and are appraised, clarifying the rationale for decisions and plans for mitigation where appropriate. Responses common to both additional English-medium and Welsh- medium places Proposed school size Views expressed 20. The proposed school size of 2.5 FE caused the most concern amongst people throughout the consultation regarding both English-medium and Welsh-medium. The majority expressed that 2.5FE is unpopular with parents and teaching staff and were of the view it would cause added complexities for teachers, disruption for pupils and anxieties for parents. 21. Additionally there were firm views expressed that mixed age classes in a Welsh-medium setting could impact on Welsh language development at the Foundation Phase and create further difficulties when English is introduced in Key Stage 2. 22. Responses to both the English-medium proposals and the Welsh- medium proposal requested that consideration should be given to providing an additional one form of entry so that the relevant school is operating at 3FE and not 2.5FE. Appraisal of views expressed 23. The Council acknowledges the concerns of staff, pupils and parents regarding mixed age classes. However, there are mixed age classes successfully operating in both English-medium and Welsh-medium primary schools in many parts of Wales, including Caerphilly and the Vale of Glamorgan. Research carried out on the impact of mixed age classes on children’s achievement indicates that children make the same progress in mixed age classes as those children in same age classes. The research also indicates that children in mixed age classes may have significantly more positive attitudes towards school, themselves and 1 others . 1 Veenman, S. (1996). Effects of multigrade and multi-age classes reconsidered. Review of Educational Research, 66(3), 323-340. Also Veenman, S. (1995). ‘Cognitive and noncognitive effects of multigrade and multiage classes: a best evidence synthesis’, Review of Educational Research, 65, 4, 319-381. Page 4 of 21 The current projections show that current demand is for an increase of 0.5 FEfrom 2FE to 2.5FE (with nursery places) for both Welsh-medium and English-medium education in and around the Llanishen area. Since the completion of the consultation, Health Service population data for 2014 has been made available. Initial analysis confirms that the proposed expansions of 0.5FE in English-medium and 0.5FE in Welsh- medium provision are both necessary and appropriately sized. Additional traffic Views expressed 24. Concerns were expressed regarding increased traffic around each of the school sites proposed for expansion. The school sites are already very busy, particularly in the mornings and any additional provision will result in further difficulties. Appraisal of views expressed 25. Traffic and transport implications will be considered as part of the Transport Assessment that would be required in order to achieve planning consent for building works should this proposal be implemented. If there are highways improvements that are stipulated as conditions of any planning permission sought these will be addressed and there has been a nominal amount of funds built into the costs of the proposals to cover this in the event they are permitted to proceed. 26.