Appendix 12: Letters Appendix 12.1 Betws and Blaengarw Primary Federation Governing Body

Appendix 12.2 College response to consultation

Appendix 12.3 Primary School Governing Body

Appendix 12.4 Chris Elmore MP / Huw Irranca-Davies AM

Appendix 12.5 Community Council

Appendix 12.6 Primary School Governing Body

Appendix 12.7 Community Council

Appendix 12.8a Rhieni dros Addysg Gymraeg / Parents for Welsh Medium

Education (Welsh)

Appendix 12.8b Rhieni dros Addysg Gymraeg / Parents for Welsh Medium

Education (English)

Appendix 12.9 Comprehensive School

Appendix 12.10 Pen Y Bont Sixth Form College

Appendix 12.11 Scott Cairns, Community Governor at CCYD

Appendix 12.12 Primary School Governing Body

Appendix 12.13a Comisiynydd y Gymraeg / Welsh Language Commissioner (Welsh)

Appendix 12.13b Comisiynydd y Gymraeg Welsh Language Commissioner (English)

Appendix 12.14 to Appendix 12.33 Blaengarw Primary Pupils

Appendix 12.34 Support for Bryntirion Comprehensive

Appendix 12.35 to Appendix 12.52 Support for Cynffig Comprehensive

Appendix 12.53 to Appendix 12.100 Support for CCYD

Appendix 12.1 Betws and Blaengarw Primary Federation Governing Body

Appendix 12.3 Bryncethin Primary School

Appendix 12.4 Chris Elmore MP / Hus Irranaca-Davies AM

Appendix 12.5 Garw Valley Community Council Appendix 12.6 Ogmore Vale Primary School

Appendix 12.7 Newcastle Higher Community Council

Newcastle Higher Community Council

Cyngor Cymuned Castellnewydd Uwch

Rock Farm

St Athan

Barry

CF62 4PG

Email [email protected]

Education and family Support Directorate Consultation Post 16 BCBC Civic Offices Angel Street Bridgend CF31 4WB February 2020

Dear Director of Education

The Newcastle Higher Community Council has asked me its Clerk to write in support of the retention of the 6th form provision at Coleg Cymunedol Y Dderwen in the area that the Community Council serves.

Councillors, in discussing the potential proposal to remove provision for over 16 education felt that if this went ahead it would represent a step backwards in the provision of education services in the area.

Members are aware that there is in fact room for further expansion on the site, and were concerned that families may feel that the school no longer represented what they wanted if it did not provide a complete education from 11 to 18 years. The Council was also aware that the ethos of a school is enhanced by the older pupils providing role models as young people to the younger pupils.

The Community Council would be pleased if the BCBC considered these factors as it makes its decision. Please listen to the parents and pupils.

Yours sincerely

John Richfield

Clerk to the Council Appendix 12.8a Parents for Welsh Medium Education (English)

Appendix 12.8b Parents for Welsh Medium Education (English)

The response of Parents for Welsh Medium Education to the Consultation of Council

On

The potential to reorganize the post-16 provision throughout Bridgend County Borough - stage 4 considering the options

Acting National Director

Elin Maher [email protected]

07970 304219

Thank you very much for the opportunity to respond to this consultation on

The potential to reorganize post-16 provision across Bridgend County Borough – Stage 4 considering the options.

We appreciate the opportunity to respond to the consultation and to offer additional comments on the document and the way we can further contribute to the debate on Welsh-medium post-compulsory education in the County.

Background to the Parents for Welsh Medium Education movement (RhAG)

The essence of RhAG since its inception is to support parents and guardians as they go on the journey with their children through Welsh Education and beyond. The period begins before the child's birth, with the promotional work within the pre-natal and early years’ sector, and we work positively and proactively with stakeholders to ensure that access to Welsh education is available to all who wish to have it.

Through this work we also endeavour to ensure that more Welsh-medium schools open up throughout the length and breadth of as the demand arises. We work closely with a wide range of stakeholders - schools, Local Authorities, Language Enterprises, education consortia, Urdd Gobaith Cymru, Mudiad Meithrin, private care providers to name but a few.

We also work directly with parents to support them when specific cases arise. We do this through advice and direct representation.

There is a network of volunteers across Wales, both parents, carers and friends of Welsh Education, who represent the organisation on a variety of committees and forums and feed back to a national management committee.

Specific response to the consultation points

1. Post 16 Welsh-medium Education not clear in the consultation

Considering the above context, we note our disappointment that this was not clearly set out in this consultation.

We understand, following a letter written by our local branch to the Chief Education Officer, that Welsh-medium Education was not part of this consultation. We wish to emphasise the confusion that has been caused in terms of the public perception that the consideration of Welsh Education had not been sufficiently clear and had indeed made stakeholders consider that they were not part of post-16 provision in Bridgend.

2. Table 1

We refer to the table on page 4 that gives PLASC numbers 2015-2018, which indicate the numbers that have attended post-compulsory education at Comprehensive School.

This table notes that the numbers of post-16 education at Llangynwyd Comprehensive school have been consistent and have indeed shown recent growth and therefore demonstrate that the provision in Llangynwyd is robust although this is the only Welsh-medium secondary provision in the County. The challenge is to secure a structure that sustains these numbers and develops them further for the next decade and beyond.

3. Table 2

We are pleased to see, under positive elements in table 2, that a comment was made:

• Faith schools and Welsh-medium schools see this as a highly desirable model/the only acceptable model

A number of other aspects were also key to Welsh education such as:

• Maintaining the link between sixth form students and the remainder of the school, particularly as role models and supporting younger learners

• The approach that keeps disruption to the minimum

• Staff stability

We also agree with aspects in the concerns section.

4. Ecosystem

We note that a completely bilingual table should be provided or two monolingual tables, Welsh and English, side by side.

We note that in this ecosystem there is no mention of the opportunities to grow into bilingual learners. The vision of Bridgend Council's Strategic Education Plan states that:

Bridgend County Borough Council's vision is that our Welsh-medium education provision and support for Welsh language teaching should:

• fulfil the key principles of equality, choice and opportunity for all; • respect, promote and embody the linguistic and cultural diversity of Bridgend and Wales; • recognize a common Welsh heritage; • reflect the social, economic and cultural needs of Wales in the 21st century; • provide an opportunity to reflect on personal identity and a sense of place and community and develop these; • be consistent with the national aspirations set out in the Welsh Government's Welsh-medium Education Strategy; • consider the Welsh Government's Welsh Language Strategy (2016) to achieve a million Welsh speakers by 2050, which has the aim below for post- compulsory education: To develop the provision of post-compulsory education that increases progression rates and supports everyone, no matter how fluent they are in Welsh, to develop skills in the language for use socially and in the workplace.

It is not clear in the Ecosystem or the document as a whole that this is a core and constant consideration in this process. It would be good to see a clear statement of intent concerning this in progressing to the report, following the consultation, and when planning the next course of action.

5. Point 10

This is where there was the opportunity to note that the Welsh Education provision of Llangynwyd Comprehensive School was not under consideration as part of this consultation and that the Welsh medium provision would remain in Llangynwyd Comprehensive School.

Bridgend RhAG sent a letter to the Chief Education Officer detailing their concerns during the consultation process because this document did not specify the position of Welsh-medium education sufficiently clearly. We understand that Llangynwyd Comprehensive School provision is not part of this consultation as such but this could have been more clearly stated when setting the consultation in its context.

We are pleased to see that recognition of the growth, which is currently being planned within the primary sector, is part of the Strategic Welsh in Education Scheme. This will be significant for the long term viability of Llangynwyd Comprehensive School, and the plans to co-operate with cross-boundary schools will be in keeping with other Welsh Secondary School schemes across Wales.

6. Point 16

We fully agree with this statement only if it includes Welsh-medium education as an integral part of this high-quality provision.

7. Point 47

If this is the Cabinet’s preference, then the provision must be equally as broad and of 21st century standard for Welsh-medium students, and the resources to achieve this should be secured in line with the findings of this consultation.

8. Annex 4 - Assessment of the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015

It is good to see that the Welsh provision is set out here in section 2 but the strand, Wales with a vibrant culture where the Welsh language thrives, could have been strengthened to reflect Bridgend Welsh Education’s strong and exciting plans for the next decade.

Thank you for the opportunity to respond to this consultation document. If you would like any clarification of our comments then pleas

Appendix 12.9 Pencoed Comprehensive School

Response to BCBC Post 16 Consultation – Pencoed Comprehensive School The possibility of changing the status of Pencoed Comprehensive to an 11 – 16 school is of concern to staff particularly if this leads to a mix of 11-16 and 11-18 schools across the Local Authority. Maintaining the 11-18 status of Pencoed Comprehensive School is viewed as essential to the future success of Pencoed. Option 1 A mix of school sixth forms with some mergers to create new LA maintained sixth form Centre Careful consideration needs to be given to the scope of the Learner Travel Review and the impact that not providing Post 16 transport would have on access to Post 16 provision within Bridgend. Under Option 1, Outcome D for example (Cynffig Comprehensive to act as a host to an expanded sixth form centre), Pencoed based Post 16 learners, including RCT resident learners, would be required to travel a distance of 12 miles or more, each way, each day. There are currently some 160 students attending Penybont Sixth Form. Requiring such a large number of pupils to travel each day, beyond Pencoed, is not a viable option in our opinion, without significant investment in and co-ordination of transport arrangements – likely to cost more than the current cost of maintaining 6th form provision in Pencoed. An unintended consequence may see students looking towards RCT in terms of accessing Post 16 education and of more concern students not deciding to access A Level provision at all. This is also true of consideration in Option 2 should much of the LAs Sixth Form provision be located in the town centre of Bridgend. Outcome D would also have implications for timetabling and teacher travel time due to the distances. Route 2 – developing an expert team of teachers drawn from the 3 schools may not be a viable option in this respect due to timetabling constraints and possible concerns from professional associations. Regarding Option 1 Outcome F (Two Sixth Form Centres envisaged in School and Pencoed School with the Pencoed Centre being of around 250 students). The projections shown for 6th Form growth at Pencoed, as set out in the consultation document, are at the low end in our opinion. There are currently 163 students for the 2019/20 Academic Year, a projection of 180 by 2022/23 might be closer to the mark. This option recognises that Pencoed Comprehensive School may be over capacity and so this option takes into account option 2 as part of its rationale. Option 2 A mix of school sixth forms with some mergers to create new FE College Governed sixth- forms. The Penybont 6th Form Partnership is successful and the school would wish to continue with this innovative partnership with Bridgend College. However it is accepted by both current partners that the current model is not financially sustainable. Additionally, according to the consultation document, Bridgend College have indicated that sustained resource support may not be available if the project does not have long term viability. Should a decision be taken to progress a 6th Form Centre at the Pencoed College Campus of Bridgend College, the implications of any change to funding from a School/LA to an FE model including implications for staffing and governance would need careful consideration and would require the further development of the Penybont 6th Form partnership, on a more formal footing, particularly with regards to matters such as funding, quality assurance, admission, employment and maintaining an 11-18 approach to education across the School and Pencoed College sites. This option could be developed in a similar way to the Brynteg/Bryntirion proposals (Option 1 Outcome A), to emphasise the 11-18 pathway for Pencoed Comprehensive School students from Pencoed Comprehensive through to Penybont 6th Form College i.e. Pencoed Comprehensive maintains an 11-18 pathway with its 6th Form provision delivered through the Penybont 6th partnership that includes Pencoed Comprehensive School. The consultation is extremely vague on the role the school. For example, it states "The Penybont sixth Form could continue but the funding methodology would switch from the LA/school to the FE sector". There is a question over whether the partnership is retained with Pencoed Comprehensive School as an 11-18 school, or whether, with the centre firmly in the FE domain it is re-categorised as an 11 -16".It might be expected that the joint management committee continues to have an oversight of the A level provision and provide a conduit for the voice of the school and local community over provisions in the centre.” Maintaining the 11-18 status of the school is seen as important and clear pathway to ensuring this is seen as essential for the future prosperity of the school and the 6th Form College provision The vast majority of teaching, at Penybont 6th Form College, is currently provided by Pencoed Comprehensive School Staff, with a 3 year trend of improving outcomes including key courses such as Law which are taught by Bridgend College staff as part of the current partnership arrangement. Maintaining this partnership approach is seen by the school as important in retaining and recruiting staff to the school/Penybont 6th Form College and in maintaining the breadth and quality of provision. Expanding the provision to include learners from other schools would require the involvement of such schools in any new partnership arrangements and similar agreement in terms of a “Route 2 – sharing of expert staff” approach to shared provision. Careful consideration would need to be given to “teaching capacity” given the upturn projected in 11-16 learner numbers at Pencoed Comprehensive School and at other schools such as CCYD. It is not for us to comment on the splitting of Post 16 provision for CCYD student, this would need to be managed strategically. Expanding numbers may support the argument for securing capital investment. It is highly likely that CCYD will want to maintain its own 6th Form provision. The development of a 6th Form College on the Pencoed Site of Bridgend College would maintain Post 16 provision for the town of Pencoed and is preferable to Pencoed Post 16 learners attending 6th provision at Cynffig or in Bridgend town centre based 6th Form College. The school feel that maintaining 11-18 provision is important to Pencoed as a town. The current projected number of students (around 250) for a new-build Penybont 6th Form College facility at the Bridgend Pencoed Campus may not be big enough to attract capital investment, these would be matters that would need to be considered through discussions between Bridgend College and the LA. In any case, the current partnership model would need an increase in student numbers to remain viable. The online survey that forms part of the consultation suggests that this provision could involve 500+ students though it is unclear how this figure has been reached? Such a figure would make this a more viable option. Developing a new 6th Form College provision on the Pencoed College Campus is an exciting proposition with considerable potential, however the strong “partnership brand” of Penybont 6th Form should be maintained to emphasise the 11-18 nature of provision within Pencoed Town – a seamless link between the school and the 6th Form College, if established on the Pencoed Campus of Bridgend College, should be maintained. The school does not support the idea of Pencoed students having to leave Pencoed to access a larger Bridgend town centre Sixth Form provision (also considered under Option 2) due to the concerns regarding the school being then viewed as an 11-16 school and because of the wider impact of potential duplication/competition by centrally locating Sixth Form Provision within the town of Bridgend. Further Comments There is a concern that this consultation exercise takes a narrow view of future education planning across the authority i.e. only focussing on Post 16 provision. There is an underlying theme in the consultation - that schools likely to be over capacity by 2027 will lose 6th Forms and will become 11-16 schools - CCYD and Pencoed Comprehensive School are two examples. Having a mix of 11-16 and 11-18 schools may see the widening of a performance gap between schools within such a small geographical area, there are concerns around the impact of such a decision on how parents may perceive schools and with regard to recruiting and retaining high calibre staff. If Pencoed, for example, is likely to become a school of close to 1300 pupils by 2027 then there is a strong possibility that a 6th Form at Pencoed would become a viable option. Perhaps investing in a new 3-19 or 11-19 school, maintaining the Penybont 6th Form College within this provision and including community facilities at Pencoed would be a better option for the long term prosperity of the Pencoed Community rather than requiring the school to become an 11-16 school on a school site that will eventually require capital investment. Table 2 of the consultation states “The retention of sixth forms is seen as essential in some areas in response to community aspirations”. It could be argued that this aspiration is no less important in Pencoed than elsewhere and that the loss of Sixth Form in Pencoed, delivered through the Penybont 6th Form collaboration, located either at the school or on Pencoed Campus of Bridgend College would have a perceived negative impact on Education provision and outcomes for the Pencoed area – an area that is likely to develop further in terms of the LDP aspirations. 6th formers are role models and losing their influence would be detrimental to the school community. Should the 6th Form College re-locate to Pencoed College links with the 6th Form should be maintained. When looking at additional pressures on Pencoed consideration also needs to be given to the development of housing in the Llanharan/Llanilud area. Consideration regarding a new LDP Plan, referred to in paragraph 15 of the consultation document suggest that there will be a need for further capacity in Pencoed further arguing the case for a new school build, this is not currently under consideration by the LA.

The Welsh Bac proposals set in in paragraph 25 are weak and would not be workable should certain options be favoured.

Edward Jones Headteacher Pencoed Comprehensive School

Appendix 12.10 Penybont 6th Form College

Appendix 12.11 Scott Cairns – Community Governor at CCYD

Appendix 12.12 Tondu Primary School Governing Body

Appendix 12.13a Welsh Language Commissioner (Welsh)

Appendix 12.13b Welsh Language Commissioner (English)

Appendix 12.14 Blaengarw Primary Pupil

Appendix 12.15 Blaengarw Primary Pupil

Appendix 12.16 Blaengarw Primary Pupil

Appendix 12.17 Blaengarw Primary Pupil

Appendix 12.18 Blaengarw Primary Pupil

Appendix 12.19 Blaengarw Primary Pupil

Appendix 12.20 Blaengarw Primary Pupil

Appendix 12.21 Blaengarw Primary Pupil

Appendix 12.22 Blaengarw Primary Pupil

Appendix 12.23 Blaengarw Primary Pupil

Appendix 12.24 Blaengarw Primary Letter

Appendix 12.25 Blaengarw Primary Pupil

Appendix 12.26 Blaengarw Primary Pupil

Appendix 12.27 Blaengarw Primary Pupil

Appendix 12.8 Blaengarw Primary Pupil

Appendix 12.29 Blaengarw Primary Pupil

Appendix 12.30 Blaengarw Primary Pupil

Appendix 12.31 Blaengarw Primary Pupil

Appendix 12.32 Blaengarw Primary Pupil

Appendix 12.33 Blaengarw Primary Pupil

Appendix 12.34 Support for Bryntirion Comprehensive

Appendix 12.35 Support for Cynffig Comprehensive

Appendix 12.36 Support for Cynffig Comprehensive

Appendix 12.37 Support for Cynffig Comprehensive

Appendix 12.38 Support for Cynffig Comprehensive

Appendix 12.39 Support for Cynffig Comprehensive

Appendix 12.40 Support for Cynffig Comprehensive

Appendix 12.41 Support for Cynffig Comprehensive

Appendix 12.42 Support for Cynffig Comprehensive

Appendix 12.43 Support for Cynffig Comprehensive

Appendix 12.44 Support for Cynffig Comprehensive

Appendix 12.45 Support for Cynffig Comprehensive

Appendix 12.46 Support for Cynffig Comprehensive

Appendix 12.47 Support for Cynffig Comprehensive

Appendix 12.48 Support for Cynffig Comprehensive

Appendix 12.49 Support for Cynffig Comprehensive

Appendix 12.50 Support for Cynffig Comprehensive

Appendix 12.51 Support for Cynffig Comprehensive

Appendix 12.52 Support for Cynffig Comprehensive

Appendix 12.53 Support for CCYD

Appendix 12.54 Support for CCYD

Appendix 12.55 Support for CCYD

Appendix 12.56 Support for CCYD

Appendix 12.57 Support for CCYD

Appendix 12.58 Support for CCYD

Appendix 12.59 Support for CCYD

Appendix 12.60 Support for CCYD

Appendix 12.61 Support for CCYD

Appendix 12.62 Support for CCYD

Appendix 12.63 Support for CCYD

Appendix 12.64 Support for CCYD

Appendix 12.65 Support for CCYD

Appendix 12.66 Support for CCYD

Appendix 12.67 Support for CCYD

Appendix 12.68 Support for CCYD

Appendix 12.69 Support for CCYD

Appendix 12.70 Support for CCYD

Appendix 12.71 Support for CCYD

Appendix 12.72 Support for CCYD

Appendix 12.73 Support for CCYD

Appendix 12.74 Support for CCYD

Appendix 12.75 Support for CCYD

Appendix 12.76 Support for CCYD

Appendix 12.77 Support for CCYD

Appendix 12.78 Support for CCYD

Appendix 12.79 Support for CCYD

Appendix 12.80 Support for CCYD

Appendix 12.81 Support for CCYD

Appendix 12.82 Support for CCYD

Appendix 12.83 Support for CCYD

Appendix 12.84 Support for CCYD

Appendix 12.85 Support for CCYD

Appendix 12.86 Support for CCYD

Appendix 12.87 Support for CCYD

Appendix 12.88 Support for CCYD

Appendix 12.89 Support for CCYD

Appendix 12.90 Support for CCYD

Appendix 12.91 Support for CCYD

Appendix 12.92 Support for CCYD

Appendix 12.93 Support for CCYD

Appendix 12.94 Support for CCYD

Appendix 12.95 Support for CCYD

Appendix 12.96 Support for CCYD

Appendix 12.97 Support for CCYD

Appendix 12.98 Support for CCYD

Appendix 12.99 Support for CCYD

Appendix 12.100 Support for CCYD