Saturday, May 06, 2006
School Reorganisation Plan
The “Big Bang” Liberal Democrat School Reorganisation Plan, announced in April was rejected by Councillors at the April Council meeting. Plagued by controversies, especially about consulting parents, the plan fell at the first fence, when the Labour Group of Councillors decided they could not support the proposals.
The Plan - the Liberal Democrat answer to the over-supply of school places in the City - proposed closing 22 schools and changes to catchment areas across Cardiff but met stiff opposition from parents, especially in north Cardiff.
Locally, the proposals included closing Rumney High School, forcing Trowbridge children to travel to Llanrumney. Less controversially it proposed amalgamating Trowbridge Infants and Junior Schools on a single site. St. John Lloyds would have become a Roman Catholic and Welsh Medium School. St. Illtyds, on Newport Road would have been closed as a Roman Catholic School and re-opened as a Welsh Medium High School. Local children who prefered to be educated at a Roman Catholic High School would have had to travel each day to attend one of two RC schools both located in north Cardiff.
The Council still has to deal with about 8,000 surplus school places (costing about £3 million a year) or it will be criticised by the Wales Audit Office. Your Councillors will, if allowed, participate fully in the development of any future proposals and have pledged to be vigilent in ensuring that the Liberal Democrats do not take the easy option of closing schools in East Cardiff.
Councillor Ralph Cook
The Plan - the Liberal Democrat answer to the over-supply of school places in the City - proposed closing 22 schools and changes to catchment areas across Cardiff but met stiff opposition from parents, especially in north Cardiff.
Locally, the proposals included closing Rumney High School, forcing Trowbridge children to travel to Llanrumney. Less controversially it proposed amalgamating Trowbridge Infants and Junior Schools on a single site. St. John Lloyds would have become a Roman Catholic and Welsh Medium School. St. Illtyds, on Newport Road would have been closed as a Roman Catholic School and re-opened as a Welsh Medium High School. Local children who prefered to be educated at a Roman Catholic High School would have had to travel each day to attend one of two RC schools both located in north Cardiff.
The Council still has to deal with about 8,000 surplus school places (costing about £3 million a year) or it will be criticised by the Wales Audit Office. Your Councillors will, if allowed, participate fully in the development of any future proposals and have pledged to be vigilent in ensuring that the Liberal Democrats do not take the easy option of closing schools in East Cardiff.
Councillor Ralph Cook
