HUNDREDS SIGN UP TO FIGHT SCHOOL PLAN

South Wales Evening Post - 5 April 2006

Hundreds of West Cross residents have signed a petition against proposals for a new school in the area. Swansea Council bosses want to open a new Welsh primary at West Cross Children's Home in West Cross Avenue.

But people living near the site say a new school would create traffic chaos for residents.Last month they took to their cars during school pick-up time to show how the extra traffic would jam up roads in the area.

They have now handed over a 525-name petition to Swansea Council ahead of a planning meeting to decide whether to grant permission to build the new school.

Residents' spokesman Richard Clarke said: "Everyone is appalled at this hugely damaging development which the council hopes to steamroll through the planning committee next week.

"For the past three years the school has been based at Bishop Gore comprehensive in Sketty. If planning permission is granted, it would open on the West Cross site in 2008.

Campaigners collected the signatures in just three days and say the response shows how strongly people feel about the proposals.

"The weight of objection against this absurd proposal is almost 100 per cent," said Mr Clarke.

"The council has applied the same consultation rules to this multi-million pound development as to a minor house extension. Their whole attitude shows flagrant disregard of the views and concerns of local residents.

"We are not against a Welsh school but a suitable site should be found which provides for their needs without destroying a whole neighbourhood."

Swansea Council's education director, Richard Parry, insists that fears over traffic have been addressed.

"We listened very carefully to concerns raised about the current problems for the schools in the area," he said.

"A lot of effort has gone into ensuring the new school will fit well into its community," he added.

"The proposed traffic management system is designed to make life easier on the school run, whichever school the pupils go to."

NEW TALKS ON SHAKE-UP OF CITY SCHOOLS

South Wales Evening Post - 4 April 2006

Education bosses will begin talks with head teachers next month over the proposed shake-up of schools in Swansea. Council officers have been reviewing their plans after a controversial scheme to merge Bishop Gore and Dylan Thomas comprehensive schools was dropped.

The authority wants to introduce a massive change to the school system as a way of dealing with surplus places.

Education chiefs claim the extra spaces are a waste of money and resources.

The initial plan had been to close Dylan Thomas and transfer pupils to the Bishop Gore site, spending millions on the school to accommodate the extra numbers.

But the idea was shelved at the end of last year after it was deemed too disruptive to pupils' education.

It had faced massive opposition from parents, teachers and children from the two schools, who feared it would have serious repercussions on their lessons.

But despite the U-turn, Councillor Mike Day, the cabinet member for education, has insisted there is still a problem with falling pupil numbers - a problem that is leaving desks empty across the county.

"We have been reviewing what has come out of our talks with all parties since Christmas," he added.

"The consultation is still ongoing.

"Unfortunately, the problem of surplus places in our schools has not gone away and we need to find a way of dealing with it."

SCHOOL 'WILL LEAD TO TRAFFIC CHAOS'

South Wales Evening Post - 21 March 2006

Protesters fighting a new Welsh school in West Cross because of congestion fears took to the streets at rush-hour yesterday to drive their message home.

They gathered at West Cross Avenue to show the affect a school would have on traffic in the area. Swansea Council wants to create a permanent site for Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg Llwynderw, which is currently housed in the grounds of Bishop Gore Comprehensive.

The new school would take the place of the West Cross Children's Home in West Cross Avenue, which is moving to a new home in Milford Way, Blaenymaes.

But residents in West Cross have criticised the plan.

Protester Richard Clarke, a local resident, said: "We are in complete agreement that there needs to be a suitable Welsh school for the people of Llwynderw, but this site is not right.

"The plan is for an extra 450 pupils to be bussed into the school.

"And the main reason for the protest was to show the impact on road traffic flow.

"It is extremely busy and potentially very dangerous.

"There was major congestion and buses couldn't get past.

"Child safety will be compromised."

Mr Clarke said about 20 residents had taken part in the protest."There is also the environmental aspect," he added.

"The plan is for 50 per cent of all the mature trees to be completely felled, so the green site would be lost."

Protesters said that they were not against the school but felt the location of the site, on West Cross Lane, was inappropriate.

Another protester, Brenda Stevens, aged 60, said: "More traffic will make it less safe for residents, many of whom are elderly, as well being bad for the environment."

Leaflets have been sent to residents asking for their views on the plans.

Richard Parry, Swansea Council's education director, said residents' fears had been heeded and that the plans included traffic calming measures.

Row over city's new Welsh primary

16 February 2006 - BBC Wales Website

Welsh-medium primary school pupils in the west of Swansea who are currently taught in a old canteen block may have new classrooms within two years.

Plans for a permanent home are to be submitted to the council next week.

When Ysgol Gynradd Llwynderw opened in an old school canteen in Sketty the accommodation was to be temporary.

The new school would be three miles away in West Cross, but some residents there oppose the move as there are already two other schools at that site.

They say there are major traffic problems caused by Grange Primary and St David's Catholic Primary, both on West Cross Avenue.

The new Welsh school would be on an adjoining site.

West Cross councillor Desmond Thomas said: "There is an amazing amount of opposition.

"I saw the plans on Tuesday and there is no doubt they are very impressive but people feel it's on the wrong site.

"There would be three primary schools on the same street. A lot of the pupils at the Welsh school would have to be bussed in or driven by their parents as they are scattered about.

"It will add to the serious traffic problems that already exist."

Ysgol Gynradd Llwynderw was opened in the old canteen block at Bishop Gore Comprehensive School in response to demand for a Welsh-medium primary for the west of the city.

Swansea Council's director of education Richard Parry said there was extensive consultation last summer and a traffic management plan would address residents' concerns.

"YGG Llwynderw has waited a very long time for this permanent replacement school.

"A lot of effort has gone into ensuring that the new school will fit well into its community and the proposed traffic management system is designed to make life easier on the school run, whichever school the pupils go to."

The Welsh Assembly Government has the final say on the overall concept of closing the current Ysgol Gynradd Llwynderw site and moving to a new build.

"If (the assembly government) does approve and planning councillors agree the application they see, then it means that we can expect children will move into the new school by September 2008," said Mr Parry.

In 2004 the education authority dropped plans to shut Mayals Primary School and relocate the Welsh-medium school there in the face of protests from parents.

NEW SCHOOL PLAN MOVES FORWARD DESPITE PROTESTS

16 February 2006

Controversial plans to build a new Welsh medium school in West Cross are finally being submitted to Swansea Council next week. Proposals to create a permanent site for Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg Llwynderw have been plagued by criticism since first being put forward.

The new school would take the place of the West Cross Children's Home in West Cross Avenue, which in turn is moving to a new £1 million state-of-the-art home in Milford Way, Blaenymaes.

But residents in West Cross have criticised the plan, amid fears it will lead to heavier traffic at the site.

The Welsh school has been temporarily housed in Bishop Gore comprehensive in Sketty for the last three years, while looking for a new base.If the latest application is approved by councillors, pupils will be able to move into the new school by 2008 - three years later than first planned.

Richard Parry, the council's education director, insisted the fears of people living nearby had been heeded.

"We listened very carefully to concerns raised about the current problems for the schools in the area," he added.

"A lot of effort has gone into ensuring the new school will fit well into its community and the proposed traffic management system is designed to make life easier on the school run, whichever school the pupils go to.

"The traffic management scheme involves calming measures and other proposals that will increase options for pupils and parents to get to school.

"The proposal to close the temporary school on the Bishop Gore site and replace it with a permanent new-build primary school in West Cross was subject to an extensive consultation process last year.

Leaflets are being sent to parents, pupils and residents in the next few days to ask them their views on the application.

A final decision by the Assembly on whether to approve the proposal has not yet been reached.

But Mr Parry said that putting in the planning application now would help speed up the process if the Assembly agrees to the overall project.

"Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg Llwynderw has waited a very long time for this permanent replacement school," he added.

SCHOOLS PROBLEM BACK ON AGENDA

27 January 2006

Education chiefs in Swansea are to meet teachers and parents again to seek answers to the school reorganisation problem. It follows the surprise U-turn by Swansea Council in November when plans to merge Bishop Gore and Dylan Thomas comprehensive schools were dropped.

Councillor Mike Day, the cabinet member for education, announced he was recommending abandoning the plans because of the disruption that would be caused to children's education.

Councillor Day said he would be meeting representatives from the school in the new year to look at what could be done to address the issue.

A spokesman for Swansea Council said the meeting would be taking place soon.

DELIGHT AS DYLAN THOMAS IS SAVED

1 December 2005

Ecstatic parents who defeated plans to close their children's school say the fight is far from over. Staff, parents and pupils are still in shock over Swansea Council's U-turn on plans to shut Dylan Thomas Community School and merge it with Bishop Gore.

Education cabinet member Mike Day revealed yesterday that he is to recommend abandoning the plans because of concerns about disruption to pupils' education.

But weary parents said they will continue their battle to safeguard the future of the school and improve pupil numbers.

The school was earmarked for closure after claims by the council of falling numbers and a need to cut more than 1,000 surplus places across the city and county.

Sheila Lewis, parent-governor at the school, said: "We have still got to address the issue of falling rolls. Our argument has always been that we do not have falling rolls.

"The birth rate is not falling. All along we have said the council's numbers were distorted.

"There were so many flaws in these plans, they couldn't explain themselves.

"But we are not giving up the fight. We have to prove to them that our numbers aren't falling."

Mrs Lewis, who fought the plans even though her own sons Sydney, aged 14, and Stanley, aged 12, would leave before any changes took place, said there was a carnival atmosphere in the school since the news.

"Everyone is over the moon," she said.

Mark Gibbs, deputy head, said: "Elation and euphoria are everywhere - Christmas has come early. We always had a belief that we would win the fight.

"It is hammering down in Swansea but it is sunny in Cockett.

"The support we've had has been absolutely terrific.

"We always felt this was a successful school and the parents and children believe in it. For once, the right thing has actually happened.

"Swansea West AM Andrew Davies said: "The new decision made by the council to keep the school open is as a result of the hard work of the parents, governors, teachers and, most of all, the children of Dylan Thomas Community School.

"Conservative AM Alun Cairns, of South Wales West, had also backed the parents' fight.

He said: "My interest has always been the pupils, and to protect the fantastic culture where pupils with special needs are integrated fully with the other students.

"This change of heart is excellent news and the parents, teachers and pupils should be congratulated.

"Staff at Bishop Gore were yesterday also taking in the news. They are expected to comment formally tomorrow.

But parents said they believed the right choice had been made.

One added: "I think everyone is relieved they have seen sense. The plans would have caused a lot of problems and hurt the children's education.

"It has been hard going, but I think everyone is happy now."

LIB DEMS DENY POLITICAL OPPORTUNISM

30 November 2005

Three Swansea councillors who yesterday voiced concerns about proposals to close Dylan Thomas School have been accused of cashing in on the shock U-turn. Lib Dem councillors Rene Kinzett, Peter May and Keith Morgan broke ranks and called for a rethink over the plans - a day before such a move was announced.

Labour group leader David Phillips said: "These three appear to have got wind of the intended U-turn and thought they could cash in on the situation by publicly changing their tune in advance.

"All three voted in council against Labour and Plaid Cymru entreaties to halt the merger.

"For them to now claim that they were listening to staff and parents all along seems to me just plain hypocrisy."

He described the move as political opportunism of the worst kind and felt that the public would not be impressed.

But Councillor Peter May dismissed the suggestion saying he was not aware of the plans and that he had told residents weeks ago he did not approve.

He said: "I voiced my concern about this about three weeks ago. When parents asked me I told them what my stance was.

"It is not us making political gain but Labour who have been holding public meetings and leafleting.

"In the end the decision would have been made by a Labour minister in Cardiff anyway."

Councillor Kinzett also said he did not know about the U-turn plans and that his comments were timed to coincide with the decision coming before cabinet.

He said: "It is not opportunism to listen to people, my views have been shaped by the consultation process."

PARENTS WIN DAY AS CLOSURE CANCELLED

30 November 2005

Parent power has won a major victory after Swansea Council binned plans to close a school. Swansea Council is expected to abandon plans to shut Dylan Thomas Community School and merge it with Bishop Gore school.

The proposals had met with determined opposition from staff and parents at both schools.

But education cabinet member Mike Day has revealed to the Post that he is to recommend shelving the plans, although he admits the problem of pupil numbers at the school still had to be addressed.

He said feedback on plans to run one school on two sites for up to two years while work to upgrade the school to accommodate disabled pupils was carried out had raised concerns about the disruption to pupils' education.

Councillor Day insisted that was the key factor in the sudden u-turn, rather than the unpopular reaction to the plans.

He said: "The case for school reorganisation in the west of Swansea remains strong and the proposal to transfer pupils to Bishop Gore was sound but I am not convinced we can do this without an unacceptable level of disruption for pupils in the transition period.

"I have always said the school reorganisation programme would put the interests of pupils first.

"Some people might argue that having got this far we have no choice but to press on but I disagree. The council has engaged in a genuine consultation and we have listened.

"Despite the change of heart over the merger plans the rest of the council's school reorganisation proposals are going ahead.

A number of objections mean the Assembly will now decide on proposals to close Ysgol Gymraeg Garnswllt, to develop a new home in West Cross for Ysgol Gymraeg Llwynderw and to close Bryn Nursery in Townhill, with provision being transferred to Townhill Primary School. A decision is expected around Easter.

But plans for a new school based in Pontarddulais for children with learning difficulties are expected to be pushed forward.

But despite the u-turn over the plans to close Dylan Thomas, it is still unclear what the future holds for the school.

Councillor Day said: "We still have a problem, along with all other education authorities, in connection with surplus places. Falling rolls at Dylan Thomas still have to be addressed."

He said that if numbers continued to fall at the school, it could become unviable and across Swansea around 1,000 surplus places still had to be axed over the next few years.

Councillor Day said: "The fact remains that despite the recommendation I will make to cabinet next month, the issues around falling schools rolls at Dylan Thomas still exist and must be dealt with."

He said meetings with head teachers and governors of secondary schools in the west of Swansea would now be held to find a way forward.

A cabinet meeting on December 15 will be advised to drop the plans, with Councillor Day saying fears of disruption have fuelled the change of heart.

He said: "The pupils came forward with some very good points, very well made and expressed in a very coherent way.

"The consultation showed almost all respondents - including both sets of governors - feared there would be too much disruption to pupils' education during the transition period and I have been persuaded by that.

"Whatever we do, the children must come first, and this is what I will be recommending to cabinet next month.

"Cabinet has never rushed to judgement on what action to take if it agrees not to close Dylan Thomas.

"What we would do is take steps to ensure the smooth running of the school while further consultation goes on."

Cockett councillor Rhodri Thomas said: "We are delighted at the outcome of this - it is the best Christmas present the children at Dylan Thomas could have had."

COUNCILLORS DEMAND AN APOLOGY FOR U-TURN 'HELL'

30 November 2005

Pupils, parents and staff at Bishop Gore and Dylan Thomas schools deserve apologies after their U-turn "hell" over merger plans. That is the view of Labour councillors responding to news of the surprise decision to drop plans to close Dylan Thomas and transfer its pupils to Bishop Gore.

Labour leader David Phillips said he was delighted by the news and described the U-turn as a substantial victory for parent and pupil power.

But he said the Labour group had never been convinced by the reasons behind the move.

He said: "The figures used to justify closing Dylan Thomas School have never stacked up from the outset.

"It's a pity that the ruling regime has taken so long to come to the same conclusion.

"Chris Holley and his cabinet now owe the staff, pupils and parents of Dylan Thomas an apology for putting them through unnecessary hell."

Plans to shut city school dropped

29 November 2005 - BBC Wales website

Children were pleased to hear their school would remain openCampaigners in Swansea have won their fight to save a city secondary school from closure.

A report due before councillors next month will recommend that plans to close Dylan Thomas Community School and merge it with Bishop Gore are dropped.

It follows a long campaign by supporters of the school in Cockett.

A council spokesman confirmed that parents and governors had been told of the decision on Tuesday and a statement would be issued on Wednesday.

He said the decision to scrap plans had followed deep concerns expressed about the viability of the merger and the costs involved in making Bishop Gore, in Sketty, accessible for children with disabilities.

The chairman of governors at Dylan Thomas had previously accused Swansea council of social bias, saying the school was a "soft target" for closure.

Falling pupil numbers were blamed but parents believed it was chosen because it serves a more deprived area.

The council rejected this argument and said its decision would be made on educational grounds only.

Deputy headteacher Beth Hale was pleased with the decision to keep the school open.

"It was never a failing school and we have proved it," she said.

"We are going from strength to strength and it is onwards and upwards from now on."

The school in Cockett has around 1,500 in its catchment area but only attracts around 550 pupils.

Many of them are from the Townhill housing estate, one of Wales' most deprived areas, and around half of them have special educational needs.

Bishop Gore Comprehensive, in the more affluent Sketty area and next to Singleton Park, also has falling pupil numbers but was not earmarked for closure.

A report by the Welsh schools inspection body, Estyn, earlier this year said Dylan Thomas secondary was improving rapidly and progress was evident despite significant challenges.

500 IN RETHINK CALL ON CLOSURE OF SCHOOL

15 November 2005

More than 500 angry parents have sent a clear message to Swansea Council chiefs - save our schools. They are upset at the proposal to close Dylan Thomas Community School in Cockett and the eventual proposed transfer of its pupils to the Bishop Gore site in Sketty.

A protest petition carrying 522 names was handed over to education chiefs at County Hall yesterday urging an immediate rethink.

Council chiefs are keen to establish a £20 million super-school on the Bishop Gore site.

They say they need to react to school roll figures that are dropping right across the city. But the bid is being fought by parents of pupils at both Dylan Thomas and Bishop Gore who want to see the two schools' identities preserved.

Parents and children at the schools say the right to parental choice is being taken away.

Parents of pupils at the feeder schools have also objected to being denied the right to be involved in the consultation process.

Parent Amanda Edwards, who has two children at Bishop Gore and three primary age children, said: "We are demanding proper consultation because many stakeholders have been denied access to meetings.

"Feeder schools and people directly affected and Sketty residents were excluded from meetings."

She said confidence among the campaigners that they would win their fight was high.

She added: "Confidence is growing daily.''A Swansea Council spokesman said extensive consultation on the proposals for the schools had taken place.

"There has been more than one round of consultation regarding the proposals to close Dylan Thomas School," he continued.

"The first of these took place during a six-week period during the summer term. Meetings were staged with governors, parents, teachers and pupils at both Dylan Thomas and Bishop Gore."

The spokesman discounted suggestions that a larger school could cause problems.

"There is no evidence that larger schools are any less safe for pupils," he said.

"The council welcomes the petition and will look at the documentation submitted with it.

"A report on this and other feedback will go to cabinet in December."

He added: "Home tuition is available under exceptional circumstances only and usually only to address medical circumstances certified by a doctor or community paediatrician."

COUNCIL EYE ON SITE SALE

15 November 2005

As parents of children at a Bishop Gore feeder school, we support 100 per cent the fight by parents from both schools against the closure of Dylan Thomas school and the transfer of its pupils to Bishop Gore (Post, November 9).

In particular, the proposal for a two-year transitional period, during which both sites will be open, with year six and seven Bishop Gore pupils being taught at Cockett, is so ill-thought out that it resembles something drafted on the back of an envelope.

Parents should be asking the council these questions:

How can the present curriculum be delivered on two sites, and in two very different schools?

What will be the effect on activities such as sport, orchestras and choirs?

How will pupils get to school?

The result will be traffic gridlock, or, if there is no direct bus route, pupils going into the city centre and out again twice a day. Families with children at both sites will be split up.

Worst of all, we are not even being consulted.

The council's "consultation" means parents of pupils currently at Bishop Gore, but whose children may have left by the time these arrangements kick in, are being consulted, but parents of children in feeder schools, who will be affected, are being excluded from meetings.

This bizarre spectacle makes a mockery of local democracy and surely constitutes a breach of the Assembly Government's consultation policy.

Could it be that this administration is motivated more by the potential value of the site of Dylan Thomas school than the educational needs of our children?

Nick Davies and Brigid Haines, Glanbrydan Avenue, Uplands, Swansea

COALITION OF PARENTS TO FIGHT OFF CLOSURE

9 November 2005

Parents from Bishop Gore school have joined forces with their Dylan Thomas counterparts in a bid to save the threatened school.

Swansea Council leaders want to close Dylan Thomas Community School in Cockett and eventually transfer pupils to Bishop Gore. However, the closure and plan to create a £20 million super-school have been opposed by parents from both schools.

They have now decided to pool their resources and fight Swansea Council together.

Amanda Edwards, who has two children at Bishop Gore and three primary aged children, said: "We think it is probably the first time that parents and governors from two different schools have fought to save one that is threatened with closure.

"Obviously we are coming at it from different perspectives, but we still support them fully and they oppose the same things we are against.

"For parents at Bishop Gore it has been a very disruptive year. We started it with strong rumours that we were going to close. The council then had a complete turnaround and said that Dylan Thomas was to close.

"To be honest we met that news with relief."

However, now the dust has settled on the proposals, parents from Bishop Gore feel they should stand side-by-side with those from Dylan Thomas.

Parents from both schools will hand in objections to the council together on Monday.

Mrs Edwards said: "Our objectives are the same. We do not want to see the growth of Bishop Gore. We think it will be far too big with 2,000 pupils.

"To close Dylan Thomas school would be a flagrant waste of money after spending £12 million on it four years ago.

"The Bishop Gore site will never be as accessible to children with disabilities as Dylan Thomas is.

"Mrs Edwards said that the opposition to the proposals, which include a transitional period when both sites will be open, was an issue for the whole community not just parents.

"I have two children at Bishop Gore, a third will go there and then I will have one at the Dylan Thomas site and one at primary school.

"I won't be the only parent with children at different sites and it's going to cause more traffic for residents.

"A lot of people living in Sketty will see the roads get worse and some are already supporting us.

"We also want to attract parents of younger children who we think will be affected by the two-site proposal. The council is saying it will be finished in a couple of years but it could stretch on much longer.

"Sheila Thomas, of the Dylan Thomas parents group, said they welcomed the support.

She said: "Our groups will send objections direct to the Assembly."

TIME TO FIGHT FOR SCHOOLS

8 November 2005

Having attended the consultation meeting at Dylan Thomas Community School regarding the transition proposal, I was appalled to discover that the teachers had been informed on the day the announcement was made of the proposed closure that they would be made redundant on August 31, 2007, if the proposal went ahead. It is a disgrace that any council has the right to sack any teacher who is giving 110 per cent to pupils.

A word of warning to all those in the employment of Swansea Council as teaching and non-teaching staff within schools: you are not safe.

If you don't fight with Dylan Thomas Community School now, you will have no protection from the council when they turn on your school and announce its proposed closure. After all, Swansea North and Swansea East will have the same consultations and two nurseries, two primaries and two comprehensives will face what we are facing in Swansea West now.

You have been warned. It's no good closing the stable door after the horse has bolted - you must fight these proposals now otherwise you will be next.

Susan Spencer, Haig Place, Gendros, Swansea

PROTESTERS SLAM THREE-SCHOOL PLAN

4 November 2005

Hundreds of people have signed a petition against a controversial plan to house three city primary schools in one West Cross street.

Under Swansea's big schools shake-up, Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg Llwynderw will be moved to a new site in West Cross Avenue in 2008. But residents branded the plan an accident waiting to happen and launched a petition against the proposal.

Hundreds of signatures have now been handed in as Swansea Council's two-month consultation period comes to an end.

West Cross councilors Mark Child and Des Thomas said children would be at risk on the roads because of the massive intake.

According to their estimates, more than 1,000 pupils will be using the street from three schools, creating a huge volume of traffic.

The Welsh school is currently housed temporarily at Bishop Gore comprehensive in Sketty but badly needs a new base.

If the proposals go ahead, the 70-pupil school will be housed next to Grange primary and nearby St David's Roman Catholic School.

Councillor Child said: "There will be more than 1,000 children trying to get in and out of school and a lot more traffic in an already dangerous road.

"I think there is a huge majority of people in West Cross who are against this idea. West Cross Avenue is just not large enough for it."

Objections have to be made in writing to Swansea Council before the consultation period ends tomorrow.

If just one is received it will mean the decision is referred to the Assembly and the final decision is then unlikely to be made before spring.

Councillor Mike Day, Swansea's cabinet member for education, said: "The issue of traffic is one which we take very seriously and before the scheme goes ahead there will be a proper traffic management plan set out by the council.

"It would be senseless putting something there that's going to put children's lives at risk and if people think we are going to do that they are very much mistaken."

LESSON FOR OUR COUNCIL

2 November 2005

Having a keen interest in anything to do with Swansea, I have listened intently to the discussions from both sides regarding the closure of Dylan Thomas Community School. My understanding of the situation is that Swansea Council, under the pretext of reorganisation, intends to transfer children from Dylan Thomas school to Bishop Gore, the cost of which is expected to be in the region of £20 million.

Opposition to this proposal has been valiantly mounted by parents, governors, teachers and children, only to be told by Swansea Council the closure was in the best interests of pupils and makes the best sense educationally.

Those opposing this reorganisation should be worried because Swansea Council is incapable of carrying through such a massive project and I would use the newly amalgamated Dunvant Primary School as an example.

Firstly, here we are only talking about a budget of £1 million which was to be used to upgrade, remodel and convert existing buildings.

The first £700,000 of this was to be spent by the end of the 2005/06 financial year; to date, no building works have started on site.

The only interest Swansea Council has in Dunvant Primary School is the premium land within its boundaries which members seem to believe is theirs by right to sell off. I think not!Swansea Council is clearly putting profit before pupils' educational needs.Surely a vote of no confidence in this present administration is long overdue.

Lis Davies, Cyncoed Close, Dunvant, Swansea

UNDER-THREAT SCHOOL HAS BEEN NAMED A CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE

26 October 2005

Swansea's under-threat Dylan Thomas school has been awarded a top gong for its modern approach to teaching. The Cockett comprehensive, which looks set for closure in 2007, has become just the second school in Wales to be named a Promethean Centre of Excellence.

Its teachers were praised for their work in "integrating information communication technology in teaching and learning".

Most have now been given individual awards for excellence which helped gain the overall award from school inspectors.

School governor Dereck Roberts said only one other school in Wales currently held the title, and only three other schools in Wales had ever achieved it.

"Our staff development officer Lynette Johnson, together with English teacher Joan Garrard, was the first to achieve the level three certification and has encouraged all our staff to participate," he said.

"Now at least four other staff have level two certificates and most staff have achieved level one or above. This is a very good achievement."

Dylan Thomas Community School has been earmarked for closure under Swansea Council's school reorganisation plan.

But parents, staff and school governors have launched a fight to keep it open, saying Dylan Thomas is a successful school which plays a vital part in community life.

Mr Roberts, who is chairman of the board of governors, said: "We will receive a plaque for presentation and teaching staff will receive their awards later this year.

"The school's first interactive whiteboard came from a Welsh Assembly initiative, and they launched broadband in Swansea from the school.

"We will be asking for representatives from the Assembly to come to the school to make the presentations."

ON THE RIGHT TRACK

25 October 2005

Closure-threatened Dylan Thomas school has splashed out thousands of pounds on a new performing arts studio.

The Cockett school is only the second in Swansea to offer children the chance to take a GCSE in performance arts. Lynne MacKay, head of music, said: "It will offer pupils the chance to look at all aspects of performing arts.

"The school is working with Swansea College and Gorseinon College so that the courses they run fit with ours."

Dylan Thomas school has been under threat of closure for months. Swansea Council hopes to transfer children from the school to Bishop Gore. The cost of reorganisation is expected to be in the region of £20 million.

Mrs MacKay said: "This shows we are still fighting. As far as we are concerned, the school is still open."

PARENTS WORRIED OVER SCHOOL'S REFIT

24 October 2005

Parents at Bishop Gore Comprehensive School are the latest to question Swansea Council's plans for school reorganisation in the city. The school has been earmarked for a £20 million refurbishment.

Council leaders are pushing for the revamp so that Dylan Thomas School can be closed.
If the plans are passed, pupils from Dylan Thomas will eventually be transferred to the Bishop Gore site.

However, the multi-million pound refit would take around four years to complete.
In the meantime the council is proposing that both schools are kept open.

The council has now started consultations with parents, staff and governors from both schools.
West Cross councillor and parent at Bishop Gore Mark Child said that parents were not happy with the latest proposal.

He said: "The £20 million spend on Bishop Gore will be fantastic for the school in the long term.

"I have concerns over the transition phase, though.

"It's going to have to be done in such a way so that money being spent at Bishop Gore is not wasted.

"If there is going to be disruption then parents could think it is not worth the bother and pick other schools."

Mr Child said parents had also expressed concerns about how the schools will be run while the work is being completed.

All new intake pupils will be schooled at the Dylan Thomas site.

Higher years would be split between both sites, with children remaining where they are at present.

Mr Child said: "One of the main issues is transport. Some parents will have children at both schools and so getting them there in the mornings would be a problem.

"There could be cases where parents are having to get children to three different sites if they also have children at primary school.

"There are questions about how pupils will integrate together.

"My own main concern is how do we build the school ethos if pupils are on two sites.

"Then parents are also worried that the school will be too big."

Parents at Dylan Thomas School have already met with council officials.

They have been fighting closure plans since they were announced. Many walked out of their meeting before its conclusion.

They are hoping to sideline the proposals by taking the issue to the Welsh Assembly.

Mike Day, Swansea Council's cabinet member for education, said that concerns would still be listened to.

"These were important meetings and were held partly as a response to the last report on the proposals that went to cabinet in August.

"Cabinet decided that the council should invest £20 million in a 21st Century school at Bishop Gore, but this would require a transition phase, during which one school would operate on the two sites while the work went ahead.

"I want to stress to those who take part in this consultation on the transition phase, that just as their feedback influenced the last report to cabinet, so their feedback will influence the next one."

RESIDENTS FIGHT TO STOP SCHOOL PLAN

21 October 2005

Residents fighting proposals for a new Welsh medium school in Swansea are calling for opponents to make their voices heard. Swansea Council has put forward plans to build the new school in West Cross Avenue.

It would be the new home for Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg Llwynderw, which is currently based in temporary classrooms at Bishop Gore School.

A two-month consultation period is now coming to an end. The school has long been on the wish list of parents wanting more Welsh medium education in Swansea.

But locals say it is in the wrong place and are now urging people to show their opposition to the plans.

Margaret Ellis has lived in neighbouring West Cross Lane for 43 years and says the road is busy enough without adding the traffic from a new school.

She said: "It is ridiculous what they are proposing. It is a huge school and West Cross Lane is one of the busiest roads in Swansea.

"Plus the loss of the trees and hedges would be catastrophic.

"We are sending a letter to the director of education, which is what we've been asked to do if we oppose the plans. The trouble is that people don't like putting pen to paper."

Mrs Ellis said the footprint of the school was too small to accommodate the proposals. It would be next to the existing St David's RC Primary School which her grandson attends.

She said many residents shared her concerns and asked them to voice their opposition."On many grounds we think it is not a good site and we think another should be found," she said.

"The longer it goes down the line, the more money we waste and time to find a proper site for this school.

"We should be writing again but people think if they wrote once then that is enough."

A spokesman for Swansea Council said the consultation period ended on November 5 and objections had to be made in writing.

He added: "If there are any objections to the proposals, the whole matter will be sent to the Assembly and a decision will be made by the Minister for Education and Lifelong Learning.

"That decision would not be expected before spring next year."

PARENTS STAGE WALK-OUT

20 October 2005

Angry parents have walked out of a meeting with senior council officers in Swansea after being told of plans for their school. Parents at Dylan Thomas school left the meeting en masse as the council's senior education officer was summing up proposals for the school's future.

Council leaders are proposing to close Dylan Thomas school and transfer pupils to Bishop Gore after a £20 million revamp. However, parents believe the deal will see their children's education suffer.Many are now threatening to pull their children out of the school after listening to council officers' plans for the future.

Rob Lowe, chairman of the Dylan Thomas Parents Action Group, said parents would refuse to send children to Bishop Gore.

He said: "We put it to them that we would put our children in different schools."We do not want to send them to Bishop Gore under the new plans because we think it will be too big. We put that to the officers at the meeting, but they could not explain how their plans would stand up with 500 fewer pupils."

Mr Lowe said parents would fight on."The next step is to consult with ourselves. We will talk to residents in the area and other users of the school.

"There will be an official objection lodged and that means the final decision will go to the Assembly.

"We're confident we can win that, but if we don't then we will take children out of the school.

"The overwhelming majority of parents do not wish it to come to this but they feel they are being forced into it."

School governors are also setting out a response to the council's latest plans. Chairman Dereck Roberts said: "We are working on a formal response to the meeting.

"We are fundamentally opposed to what they are planning to do."

Mr Roberts said governors would be asking to see the consultation documents used by the council to come to the decision.

Staff were told there were no guarantee about jobs.

Cabinet member for education Mike Day said: "Staff expressed concerns about their jobs and it was explained that, as cabinet has not yet made any decision about its views on the proposed closure of Dylan Thomas, we can't be specific about the plans.

"What I can say is that the council will be working very closely with the governing bodies of Bishop Gore and Dylan Thomas Community School to minimise job losses.

"I want to stress to those who take part in this consultation on the transition phase that just as their feedback influenced the last report to cabinet, so their feedback will influence the next one.

PARENTS THREATEN TO BOYCOTT MEETING

15 October 2005

Parents at a Swansea school earmarked for closure have threatened to boycott a meeting on its future. Swansea Council has called the meeting with parents and staff at Dylan Thomas Community School to discuss the proposals for its closure.
If the plans are given the go-ahead, council leaders will keep the school open for around five years while Bishop Gore school has a £20 million refit.
The meeting with parents is due to be held at the school on Tuesday, but parents are worried they have not been given enough information.
However, the council says that this first meeting is to inform parents about the plans.
Rob Lowe, parent governor at the school, said that details of the meeting came too late for them to prepare fully.
The agenda and proposals were sent to the school on Friday.
Mr Lowe said: "The new proposal regarding the change over wasn't published until Friday.
"The council did not send them out to parents and so it was down to the school to photocopy and send them back with pupils.
"The meeting has been called for Tuesday and in all likelihood many parents will not get to see the proposals until Monday. That is not enough time for us to fully understand what will be a fairly complex document.
"It's their meeting, they have called it and have facts. We will probably not find out what the full proposals are until the day before.
"It's supposed to be our chance to ask questions about the transition period, but we will not have all the information.
"The only thing I can think is that they are deliberately trying to keep parents in the dark so that we can't ask any tricky questions.
"It looks like a case of divide and rule.
"Our only option may be to boycott the meeting because we do not have the information we need."
Fellow parent Sheila Lewis said: "The administration is insulting our intelligence. How do they expect parents to consult by Tuesday?"
A council spokesman said today: "Parents, teachers, governors and pupils at Dylan Thomas Community School and Bishop Gore school will have ample time to consider this consultation on the transition phase.
"The purpose of the meetings is to give information about the transition phase. The closing date for feedback on the consultation is not until November 16. Therefore those who wish to comment will have almost a month to prepare and return their comments to the council following the meeting.
"Cabinet will consider the feedback in December and will decide at that time whether or not to proceed with the proposals."

SCHOOL: COUNCIL SAYS IT LISTENS

4 October 2005

Council leaders have hit back at claims they are not listening to parents over proposed school closures in Swansea.

Parents from Dylan Thomas Community School reacted angrily to the council's announcement that a new round of consultations would not take into account views on closure. They say that the first consultation, which was held in June and July, was for a completely different proposal.

Since then the council has changed the scheme from a £7 million refurbishment of Bishop Gore comprehensive to a £20 million spend at the school. Education advisory committee chairman Nick Tregoning said that parents, staff and governors had already been heavily consulted on their fears over the possible closure of Dylan Thomas school.

He said: "It is remarkable that anyone can claim the council is not consulting and not listening.

"The fact is that the council is listening to pupils, parents, teachers unions, governors, councillors, AMs and many others with an interest in the future of education in Swansea.

"The council has received submissions from Dylan Thomas school and staged meetings there to listen to views of all those with an interest in it.

"However, Rob Lowe, a parent governor at Dylan Thomas school, said that parents were not happy.

"We have been consulted on the first set of plans. That was for £7 million to be spent on Bishop Gore and the closure of Dylan Thomas. "They changed that and are now planning to spend £20 million on it. We have not had a chance to consult on those proposals.

"It's a bit of a mixed bag really because we have had the chance to talk about the closure but not on what it's going to cost under the new proposal. We think that is crucial.

"How have they come up with the figure of £20 million? We have not seen any plans for the refurbishment."

The council's current proposal would see a five-year improvement plan for Bishop Gore school.

When that is complete, pupils from Dylan Thomas school would be transferred and the school closed.

The consultation will run from October 14 and will look at the transition period between work starting and the proposed closure of the school.

PARENTS ANGRY THAT SCHOOL CLOSURE FEAR WILL BE IGNORED

30 September 2005

Angry parents have criticised council leaders after learning they will not listen to concerns over the closure of Dylan Thomas Community School.

Parents and staff have been warned that any comments about closure during an upcoming consultation on the future of Dylan Thomas and Bishop Gore schools will be ignored. A council spokesman said that the consultation, which is due to begin on October 14, will be about the transition period between now and the proposed closure of Dylan Thomas in 2010.

The plan is to spend £20 million creating a super-school at the Bishop Gore site before closing Dylan Thomas and transferring pupils. The spokesman said: "Cabinet member for education Mike Day stressed that the consultation was not a reopening of the whole consultation process on the proposed closure of Dylan Thomas and would be restricted to considering transition alone."

The decision has not gone down well with parents at Dylan Thomas.Rob Lowe, parent governor and chairman of the Dylan Thomas Parents Action Group, said: "It is not what we wanted to hear.

"We still have doubts about how they are going to pay for this and we want to raise those concerns."

Mr Lowe said parents were frustrated by the cabinet's handling of the proposals.

"The reaction is that we haven't had a decent consultation over the closure. The whole thing seems to be a done deal.

"The fact that they are now talking about the transition period shows that that is the case.

"Consultation is supposed to be talking to each other and listening. We do not feel they have listened to us at all.

"Parents and staff are likely to get the chance to air their views early next year.

If the cabinet chooses to push ahead with the proposal, parents will lodge their official opposition with the Assembly.

That means Education Minister Jane Davidson would have the final say.

Mr Lowe said: "We would want it to go before the full council so it can be debated openly at a local level.

"But obviously if the cabinet pushes on, then we will lodge our opposition during the statutory notice period.

"We are confident that when it goes to the Assembly, we will get the decision we want."

Parents, teachers and governors at Dylan Thomas are planning a meeting to discuss the proposals four days after the new round of consultations begins.Councillor Day said that it would be a number of years before Bishop Gore was ready to take children from Dylan Thomas School.

He added: "The council is prepared to invest £20 million in a re-modelled Bishop Gore because we think it will produce the right educational environment for generations of pupils to come. We have consulted on the proposed closure of Dylan Thomas; we will next consult on a transition phase and take on the process from there."

COUNCIL'S IGNORANCE

24 September 2005

It seems Swansea's administration loves spending our taxes on independent investigators. Only recently we spent £35,000 on one regarding the surplus school places, after which the council totally ignored the advice and recommendations as can be seen in the proposal to close Dylan Thomas Community School.

Sheila Lewis, Gwynfor Road, Cockett, Swansea

BIG SCHOOLS IMPERSONAL

13 September 2005

The proposed amalgamation of Bishop Gore and Dillwyn Llewelyn schools concerns me from the following aspect. When schools get too large and impersonal, pupils' pride in their school and respect for their teachers decreases alarmingly. Discipline suffers and tracing truants is more difficult. Quiet students and those with learning difficulties are completely overwhelmed.

Correspondents have already raised the problem of children's behaviour on the way to and from school, again the result of lack of pride and respect.

I consider Bishop Gore to be too large as it is.

Councillors should remember that they were elected because people were fed up with their views being ignored. Since the excellent decision to save the leisure centre they have done nothing but close things and demolish good buildings, and allow changes such as the parking charges without considering the knock-on implications.

Angela M Bridges, Sketty Avenue, Sketty, Swansea

PUSH FOR A REVIEW OF SCHOOL PLANS

10 September 2005

Parent power is likely to force a review of plans for a new Welsh school in the city. Swansea Council leaders have agreed to push forward plans to close Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg Llwynderw and build a new school in West Cross.

However, local residents and parents at Grange Primary School and St David's Roman Catholic School are planning to officially object to the plans.

That means the final decision will have to go before Assembly Education Minister Jane Davidson.

The new school is planned at a site next to Grange School and pupils will share the playing field.

There have already been a number of meetings against the proposals as part of a council-run consultation process.

West Cross councillor Mark Child said objections were a certainty now that a two-month statutory notice period has opened.

He said: "I'm sure parents and residents will be objecting. I am certainly going to put in an objection and I'm pretty sure Councillor Des Thomas will also object.

"We want to know the reasons behind the council's decision. We have consistently asked to see documents about what other options have been rejected and why they feel this is the best option.

"They have refused to give us those documents, even under the Freedom of Information Act.

"We do not believe it is right that we have to object against something without knowing the full facts.

"The traffic created by a new school is an issue for both residents and parents and staff at Grange School and St David's."

A single objection during the two-month statutory notice period will mean the final decision is handed to the Assembly.

If the plans go ahead, the council will also need to find a new site for West Cross children's home.

West Cross Lane was recently identified by a Swansea Council report as being one of the most dangerous areas in the city and residents fear that it will only get worse.

Jacqueline Coates, chairwoman of Grange School's board of governors, said: "We are primarily concerned with the increased traffic flow around the school.

"Already there are parking problems and we have not seen any way that it will be improved by putting a new school on the site.

"West Cross Lane is already the 24th most dangerous road in Swansea."

At present we have 186 children. If the new school is built, it will mean another 480 will be on the site."Cabinet member for education Mike Day said the scheme is important for the future of Welsh education in the city.

He said: "This would be a major investment by the council in the future of Welsh-medium education in the city.

KEEP VILLAGE SCHOOL OPEN

7 September 2005

As a mum of three sons I know that education is vital from an early age - well it seems that my two-year-old son will be denied the opportunity of going to school at three-years-old. They are talking of closing our village school at Garnswllt, and the alternatives offered are over two miles away, too far for me to take and pick him up - the bus service is not regular enough, so there is no way I can get him there and back.

When I brought this up with Swansea Council - the answer I got is that they do have to provide transport for nursery children only primary and above.

So to save a few thousand pounds, my son and all the future babies and nursery children in Garnswllt will be denied the right to go to school until they reach primary age - so they will not get the chance to learn social skills and how to interact like they would if they go to school at three-years-old.

So, ask any parent what price do you put on your child's future and education, because we already know what price that Swansea county does.

Miss J Robinson, Lon-y-Felin, Garnswllt, Ammanford

Council publishes schools' statutory notices

Swansea Council Website - 5 September 2005

PROPOSALS by Swansea Council that will lead to a significant boost for Welsh medium education in the city are due to be published in a statutory notice today (Monday).

Swansea Council Cabinet agreed last month to press ahead with a scheme that would lead to a brand new Welsh-medium primary school being built at West Cross.

Now the public will have two months to have a final opportunity to comment on the scheme and if there are objections, the proposal will go to the Welsh Assembly Government for a decision.
The scheme will aim to replace Llwynderw primary school which is currently housed on the Bishop Gore site with a new-build school at West Cross.

Cabinet Member for Education Mike Day said, "This would be a major investment by the council in the future of Welsh-medium education in the city. But we have an obligation to publish a statutory notice to ensure that everyone can have their say.

"Ultimately Jane Davidson, WAG's Education Minister, will make a final decision if there are any objections registered during the statutory notice period."

The proposal for Llwynderw forms part of the first phase of Swansea Council's School Organisation programme. It's aim is to continue to improve education provision in the city and tackle the problem of falling school rolls and surplus places.

Statutory notices are also being published regarding proposals for a new Special Teaching Facility at Pontarddulais Comprehensive School for children with special learning difficulties.
Also being published are notices proposing to close the very small primary school at Garnswllt, transferring pupils to other local schools, to create an all-through primary school including nursery at Townhill involving the closure of Bryn Nursery, transferring the facility to Townhill Primary School.

Proposals regarding Bishop Gore and Dylan Thomas Community School are not subject to a Statutory Notice at this time. Proposals are due to go out to consultation with parents, teachers, governors and pupils in October.

This consultation will consider proposals for a transition phase following the proposed closure of Dylan Thomas during which Bishop Gore will operate from both sites.

SCHOOLS' PLANS FUNDING WARNING

2 September 2005

Questions have been raised over plans to spend £20 million on Bishop Gore school after it was labelled a major financial risk. The Post has seen minutes from a top-level directors' meeting which outline the funding fears.

Deputy chief executive Bob Carter raised concerns over the progress of key parts of the council's plans.According to the minutes, Mr Carter said: "There are a number of key elements which are not going to plan - major financial risks are evident."

A council spokesman has confirmed that one of these risks is proposed improvements to Bishop Gore School so it can accommodate pupils from Dylan Thomas School, which has been earmarked for closure.

The minutes added there was a need to flag up where things were not going to plan and that 'there is a difficult task ahead'. Swansea Council claims the comments have been taken out of context and merely summarised part of the meeting.

A spokesman said: "The additional cost of the Bishop Gore scheme would be one example of the risks identified.

"These comments arise from routine internal management discussions about progress in the current year on performance and financial targets, which will shortly be reported to cabinet.

"Major financial risks for which forward planning is needed are identified every year in the budget and financial planning processes.

"However, the main point of the discussion was reminding directors of the internal timetable and process already agreed in which additional spending needs and opportunities for making savings need to be identified, in anticipation of a tight spending settlement for next year from the Assembly."

Mr Carter's concerns have increased speculation on the financial viability of a number of high profile schemes.

The council is wants to spend huge amounts refurbishing the leisure centre, creating a new home for the central library and improving Bishop Gore Comprehensive School.

A spokesman for the Labour group said: "This view of the council's top managers is patently at odds with the up-beat message coming from Chris Holley and company."

LEADER HOLLEY HITS BACK IN EDUCATION ROW

2 September 2005

Council leader Chris Holley has joined the argument over Swansea's new £20 million super school. He says the row is putting children's education at risk.

Councillor Holley is the latest member of the administration to attack Labour colleagues over their criticism of the plans for Bishop Gore school.

The row erupted after Swansea cabinet members put forward a proposal to spend £20 million refurbishing the school.

The plan is part of school reorganisation in the city which will see the closure of Dylan Thomas School.

Labour leader David Phillips questioned where the money is coming from.Opposition councillors say that unless concrete funding for the project is found they will mount a challenge to the scheme.

However, Councillor Holley says the continued opposition is putting Swansea children's education at risk. He also blamed the Labour Party for many of Swansea schools' current problems.

He said: "Labour has a sorry track record on education in Swansea. They have failed to invest in schools and they failed to tackle falling pupil numbers.

"Yet, when we propose to invest £20 million to improve the education of more than 1,500 pupils, they oppose it for petty political reasons. It is the politics of spite.

''Labour is playing a dangerous political game with the futures of children in Swansea."

Council leaders say the reforms are needed and wanted by most parents in the city."These proposals are based on what parents, pupils and others have told us," said Councillor Holley.

"They want pupils put first and for school buildings to be fit."

We will continue to listen to these groups to ensure our proposals are right for all pupils."Labour leader Councillor Phillips denied accusations that they were to blame for the state of schools.

He said: "Labour's record of investing in Swansea schools and its commitment to education is well established.

''We expect investment to be properly costed, sustainable and provide value for money.

"So far, the coalition looks to be failing on all three counts.

"Wanting to know just how £20 million is to be raised can hardly be described as playing petty politics."

SPELL OUT FOR SCHOOL CASH PLAN – LABOUR

26 August 2005

Plans to spend £20 million on a new super-school for Swansea could be illegal unless it is made clear where the money is coming from, it was claimed today. Labour councillors have threatened to launch a challenge to the scheme for a multi-million pound makeover of Bishop Gore school.

They have questioned whether the authority can legally commit to spending such a large amount without being more specific about the source of the funding.

The plans, part of a major shake-up of the city's education system, have already been condemned by campaigners battling to save Dylan Thomas school, which would close under the proposals.

They have been pressing the council to explain how it intends to fund the refurbishment.

The authority has said the cash will come from the capital programme.

But opponents are demanding more details.

Labour leader David Phillips said today: "Although the cabinet has the power to embark on projects over £4 million in value, it is not clear if they can legally commit the council to this kind of spending without spelling out how the finance is to be put together.

"At the moment, they look as if they're making it up as they go along."

He added that it was only months since the capital (borrowing) budget had been set.

There are already question marks over whether schemes such as the seafront leisure centre refurbishment can go ahead if crucial land sell-offs flounder or fail to get planning permission.

Past challenges to cabinet decisions have been rejected by the presiding officer.

Labour councillors admitted they do not expect the trend to change.

But they insist they will still be pressing for John Newbury, the cabinet member for finance, to make a full statement to council.

Opposition councillors also want the finance scrutiny committee to look at why the practice of providing quarterly monitoring reports has been abandoned.

"These are important safeguards and likely to become all the more important in the future", added Councillor Phillips.

PARENTS WILL GET SAY ON SCHOOL

26 August 2005

Staff and parents at a Swansea school earmarked for closure will get a chance to have their say on the proposals. The council cabinet agreed a five-week consultation period for plans to close Dylan Thomas school and create a new £20-million super school at Bishop Gore comprehensive. The plans are part of the cabinet's controversial proposals to revamp education in the county. Consultations will begin on October 17.

Cabinet member for education Mike Day said: "We have already had an extensive round of consultations on the closure of Dylan Thomas school.

"As there is a change from the original proposal, the council wants to consult on the change before cabinet makes any final decision on its position."

The cost of the reorganisation has spiralled from initial estimates of £7 million. The new proposal will see £20 million spent rebuilding and refitting Bishop Gore.

Councillor Day said: "Parents, teachers and other interested groups have always told us that we should put the interests of pupils first and ensure that our schools are fit for the 21st century.

"Those are their priorities and the proposals we are looking at demonstrate that they are our priorities too."

If the proposals get the final go-ahead work on the new super-school will not finish until 2010.

Dereck Roberts, chairman of the board of governors at Dylan Thomas, said: "I'm concerned there's a period when both schools will be open.

"This is going to last for up to four or five years."

Decision due on new Welsh school

BBC Wales Website – 24 August 2005

A new Welsh-medium primary school is likely to be built in the west of Swansea - but the chosen site has angered some residents.

Swansea council said the new school, in West Cross should be completed in 2008.

The council's cabinet is due to vote on the proposal, which is part of the reorganisation of the city's education, on Thursday.

Opponents of the new school at West Cross say it would cause traffic issues as there are two other schools nearby.

Councillors have been looking for a new site for Welsh medium primary education in the west of the city for more than a year.

Ysgol Gynradd Llwynderw was set up three years ago in an old canteen block at Bishop Gore Comprehensive School, but has outgrown the accommodation there.

Swansea council cabinet member for education, Mike Day, said the decision to build a replacement at the site of West Cross House, due before the council's cabinet on Thursday, followed more than a year of consultation.

He said: "The new school will have modern facilities and will create the right environment to encourage pupils to reach their full potential."

He said the authority had altered its original proposals to ease local fears.

"We have listened to the concerns raised over traffic management and the environment."

But West Cross councillor Desmond Thomas said at a public meeting earlier in the year there was strong opposition to developing the site.

"I am hoping to see the new plans this afternoon but they will have to have come up with something completely different to satisfy what has been quite vociferous opposition," he said.

If there are any objections following the publication of the statutory notice it will go to the Welsh Assembly Government for a final decision.

Meanwhile councillor Day said £20m had been set aside to create a new 'super-school' by merging Dylan Thomas Community School and Bishop Gore Comprehensive.

Some parents are fighting the proposals and Mr Day said further consultation was needed.

£20M SCHOOL REVAMP AT ISSUE

24 August 2005

Parents demanding to know how the council will fund a proposed £20 million revamp of a Swansea comprehensive are still being left in the dark. Bishop Gore School could be given the multi-million pound facelift as part of a massive shake-up of the city's education system.

There are concerns the expensive plans could mean cuts to other budgets.

The authority insists it is confident the money will be available to carry out the work.But it is refusing to specify exactly where the cash will come from.Campaigners battling to save Dylan Thomas School, which has been earmarked for closure under the proposals, have questioned how the authority will be able to afford the refurbishment.

Their children will be sent to Bishop Gore if the plans to close Dylan Thomas are approved.Mike Day, cabinet member for education, insists that the money would be found.

But he would not specify where the cash would come from - saying only that it would be part of the "capital programme".

Money in the capital programme pays for major projects like new roads and buildings - the council produced a four year plan earlier this year with no mention of the £20 million school.

Work at Bishop Gore is unlikely to start until 2007, if it is given the go-ahead, and Councillor Day believes that the extra time will help the authority work out where to get the extra cash.

"We will need to incorporate it into our capital programme when it is next formally reviewed, a process in which we look at all actual and likely variations in both expenditure and financing," he said.

"Some of the additional expenditure on Bishop Gore will go into the time-frame beyond the current capital programme and this will make it easier to manage the extra cost."

Councillor Day also defended the consultation process conducted by the council on the future of Swansea schools.

The administration - made up of an alliance between Lib Dems, Conservative and Independent councillors - had come under attack from both Plaid Cymru and Labour politicians for ignoring the results.

"We have listened to pupils, parents, governors, teachers, and other groups during the consultation," said Councillor Day.

"The feedback has been vital in helping to shape our proposals.

"We believe the best option is to transfer pupils to Bishop Gore where the curriculum can meet the needs of all pupils."

The proposals will be discussed by the cabinet tomorrow.

If agreed, the council will consult on the proposals to operate a single school on two sites to enable the refurbishment work to progress at Bishop Gore.

Dereck Roberts, chairman of governors at Dylan Thomas, said: "The authority is clearly hoping that something will turn up.

" The only way they can afford this is by borrowing and that will then put a burden on the council to repay that debt for as long as it takes."

PROTESTING PARENTS QUERY REVAMP COSTS

23 August 2005

Parents battling to save a Swansea school today questioned where the council will find the money to refurbish one of the city's largest comprehensives. Dylan Thomas Community School has been earmarked for closure, under controversial plans put forward by the council.

Pupils would be sent to Bishop Gore instead with the authority promising to pour £20 million into revamping the De La Beche Road site.

But campaigners opposed to the scheme are demanding to know how the council intends to pay for the work.

Sheila Lewis, who has helped spearhead the campaign, said today: "Where are they going to find £20 million for the school?"

Swansea's politicians have also criticised the consultation process involved in the school reorganisation.

Both Plaid Cymru and Labour claim the Swansea administration - made up of a Lib Dem, Conservative and Independent coalition - has failed to listen to the people.

Plaid's education spokesman Rhodri Thomas, along with Cockett councillors Vanessa Webb and Adrian Rees, have all criticised the plans for the future of Dylan Thomas school.

Councillor Thomas said today: "We are extremely disappointed in this total failure to respond to the people's views.

"They (the coalition) appear to have been dazzled by fashionable terms - the cabinet document is littered with phrases such as "a concept architect" and "a school for the 21st Century"' rather than looking at the reality of an excellent and happy school that is working well.

"As a result this is a half-cooked scheme with noticeable holes in it."

Swansea Labour AM Andrew Davies echoed their concerns and asked why the council's estimate for refurbishing Bishop Gore has risen three-fold from £7 million to £20 million.

"Any competent administration would have established a realistic figure for refurbishing Bishop Gore before making any decision on school closures," he added.

"It shows the Lib Dems thumbing their noses yet again at the results of a public consultation.

"This is a slap in the face for the overwhelming majority who said they did not want Dylan Thomas school to close."

'FINANCE GONE SILLY'

22 August 2005

Shaun Greaney looks at the latest development in the controversy over plans to close Dylan Thomas Community School.

Campaigners fighting plans to axe a Swansea school have hit back at council plans to invest millions in another site. They say the announcement has not only moved the goalposts over the proposals but the whole pitch.

Parents and governors opposing the plans say their hand has been strengthened by a council announcement that £20 million should be spent on a super-school at Bishop Gore, Sketty, instead.Parents, teachers and governors of under-threat Dylan Thomas Community School in Cockett say the closure debate is now "a whole new ball game".

They argue the £20 million figure to create state-of-the-art facilities at Bishop Gore is "crazy money".

The chairman of governors at Dylan Thomas, former Castle councillor Dereck Roberts, said: "The figure has gone up from £7 million for Bishop Gore to £20 million."They are now saying it could be two to three years before they can transfer the school.

"What it means from our point of view is that we have had a false consultation.

"But he said the figures being talked about strengthened the case for Dylan Thomas.

He added: "The whole thing in my view is nonsense. Now it is a completely new ball game."More than 1,000 people signed up for the campaign to save Dylan Thomas School. They want council chiefs to rethink their plans to have Dylan Thomas pupils transferring to Bishop Gore.

Mr Roberts said: "Fundamentally we still believe Dylan Thomas is viable, but £20 million is an incredible amount. There are other options they need to look at, like having a merged school."We will be responding to the consultation.

"The question is why have we only now heard about this proposal now. They haven't only moved the goalposts, they've moved the pitch."

Swansea West AM Andrew Davies, who has supported the Dylan Thomas campaign, said:"It's a complete shambles that it is at this stage in the process we discover that Bishop Gore School will need £20 million spent on it.

"I understand the work will need to be done over several years and therefore it won't be ready by 2007 as originally planned."To be honest, it is a mess.

"You don't go ahead with a major consultation like this unless it is thought through.

"On the one hand you have a very good school in very good condition in Dylan Thomas and then there is Bishop Gore School, which the council admits will need £20 million spent on it.

"Once again it supports my proposal about a merger, whereby they use both sites."

Mr Davies said he would fight the plans to close Dylan Thomas all the way at the Assembly.Should the council press ahead with its plans a statutory notice will be issued in September to announce the changes.

A two-month consultation period will follow and if, as is on the cards, an objection is made before the November 5 deadline, the decision will go to the Assembly.

If that is the case, the earliest a decision is likely will be March 2006.

Already parents, staff and governors have submitted 26 pages on the arguments for why the school should be saved.

Parent-governor Robin Lowe said he was amazed at the £20 million figure.He asked: "Where are they going to get the money from?

"They have the most accessible school in Swansea in Dylan Thomas, they have the land and they want to do this to the oldest school in Swansea?

"There's nothing wrong with Bishop Gore, but wouldn't they be better off spending on a school that doesn't need as much money spent on it?

"Will they need to close other schools if they spend this amount of money?"

Parent support group leader Sheila Lewis said:"They have got it wrong again.

"This is finance gone silly."

Cabinet member for education Councillor Mike Day said the proposal to transfer pupils from Dylan Thomas to Bishop Gore was not a reflection on the teaching or provision at Dylan Thomas.

He said: "The reality is that pupil numbers in secondary schools across Swansea are falling. This means vital funding is being spent on empty desks and chairs instead of the pupils and their needs.

"The anticipated reduction in school numbers at Dylan Thomas means there will only be around 400 in the school in five years' time. If we do nothing, it will not be possible to provide the same choices in curriculum as pupils will be getting in other schools."

SCEPTICISM WAS JUSTIFIED

20 August 2005

As a former teacher, I am not in the least surprised to read that Swansea Council is backpedalling on its commitments on education funding. The promise made by education cabinet member Mike Day that money from the sale of school land would go back into education was greeted with scepticism at the time which has since turned out to be justified.

I was particularly disappointed to see political spin which portrayed £39 million as additional money from County Hall when it is actually funding from the Assembly for schools maintenance.

Spread over the five years, the sum is really no different from what was being spent in the past with a bit added for inflation - but the total sounds impressive.

It is no wonder that secondary school head teachers have challenged the council on its plans. They accept that education faces some tough issues and that serious action is needed. But they know that it also needs serious and honest people to tackle them.

J Green, Swansea Road, Gorseinon, Swansea

PLAN TO SOLVE CRISIS

20 August 2005

Swansea looks like getting a showpiece, state-of-the-art school fit for the 21st Century. The authority wants to completely refurbish Bishop Gore school and has promised a £20 million package to renovate the existing buildings and construct new facilities.

But the scheme could also still see the eventual closure of Dylan Thomas School in Cockett with pupils being sent to the new-look Bishop Gore in Sketty instead.

The project is part of the School Organisation Programme which aims to tackle falling pupil numbers, reduced funding, increasing demand for Welsh medium education and the poor condition of school buildings.

Swansea is facing a major education crisis, with secondary school pupil numbers falling across the city.Dylan Thomas school currently has 550 children on its books, but officers calculate that it is facing a reduction to about 400 in five years.

Education bosses say this will make it increasingly difficult to deliver a suitable curriculum to pupils. The move has infuriated parents.

But today, after months of consultation with pupils, parents, teachers, governors and other groups, the authority has come up with a plan it reckons will solve the row with parents unhappy at the closure proposal.

Mike Day, cabinet member for education, insisted today that refurbishing Bishop Gore School to create a single school was the best way forward."We have looked carefully at all the options open to us," he said.

"It is clear that Bishop Gore is a better long-term asset. The fabric of the school is very solid.

"If we had chosen to refurbish Dylan Thomas instead, it would require major investment and an extensive building programme to be able to cater for the 1,500 Bishop Gore pupils.

"I fully understand that everyone attached to Dylan Thomas School wants it to remain open.

"But due to the anticipated decline in pupil numbers, it will become increasingly difficult for the school to provide a broad-based curriculum.

"By investing in Bishop Gore, we will provide a modern school that will meet the needs of every pupil and have first-class special needs provision.

"While the building itself is very solid, the infrastructure is in poor condition.

"We want to seize the opportunity that is presented by completely refurbishing the existing school and building new facilities.

"During the refurbishment, pupils would be split between the two sites.

Details are still being drawn up as to how this will actually work and officers are preparing to begin talks with parents, pupils, governors and staff as to the best way of putting it into practice.

Work is unlikely to start before September 2007 at the earliest.

"The advice we have been given is that the refurbishment work will be phased over a period of time," said Councillor Day.

"Therefore, we are proposing to continue using both sites during this time. We want to find out what people's views are on this issue and so a further period of consultation is being suggested.

"If the proposal is ultimately agreed, this will mean a challenging time. However, at the end of it we will have a new school that everyone can be proud of.

"While Councillor Day said he remained upbeat about the plans, nothing had been set in stone.

He added: "No decision has been taken on this proposal.

"We want to undertake further consultation to ensure this is the best way to improve education for pupils.

"We will consult with interested groups and will examine the feedback in detail.

"The ongoing consultation has been vitally important and we will continue to listen to people.

The proposal will be discussed by the cabinet next Thursday.

If agreed, the authority will consult on the proposals to operate a single school on two sites to enable the refurbishment work to progress at Bishop Gore.

A further report will be brought back to cabinet in the autumn and if a decision to proceed is taken, this will be followed by publication of a statutory notice.

Any objections received during that period will mean that the decision is referred to the Assembly.

WEST CROSS SITE FOR NEW WELSH SCHOOL

20 August 2005

A New Welsh-medium primary school could also be built in Swansea under the proposals unveiled today. The council plans to build a new school for Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Llwynderw. Pupils are currently taught in temporary accommodation at Bishop Gore school.

The school will be built on the site of West Cross House and is due to open in September 2008.Councillor Day said: "There is increasing demand for Welsh- medium education in Swansea. We believe a new, purpose-built school will not only meet that demand, it will also help develop the Welsh language in Swansea.

"The recent consultation process was very informative.

"We have listened to the concerns raised over traffic management and the environment," he added.

"We have commissioned concept architects who believe that by demolishing West Cross House we can use the natural contours of the site to reduce any environmental impact.

"We can also fully utilise the site to address traffic concerns and to improve existing traffic issues at two neighbouring primary schools.

"The proposal will be discussed by Swansea Council's cabinet on August 25.

If agreed, a statutory notice to transfer YGG Llwynderw to the West Cross House site will be published, to be followed by a two-month objection period.

If there are objections, the proposal will fall to the Assembly for determination.

WHY WE NEED £20 MILLION SUPER-SCHOOL FOR SWANSEA

20 August 2005

Mike Day, Swansea Council's cabinet member for education, explains the need for change, as the city's schools prepare for the future.

The future of our children and their education is a priority for all of us. We all want our children to have every opportunity to achieve their potential. In order to do that, we have to ensure that our schools are modern, welcoming environments. We also have to ensure that every penny is spent on improving the education of pupils.

In Swansea, like most other areas in the country, we are facing a number of challenges.

Falling pupil numbers is a major problem. Many of our schools have surplus places which results in money being spent on empty desks and chairs rather than on pupils, books and computers.

Fewer pupils also mean that schools find it difficult to deliver a wide-ranging curriculum for pupils.

Another major issue is the condition of our schools. A survey last week showed that almost £800 million is needed to bring schools in Wales up to standard. This may even be a conservative estimate.

Swansea is very much part of the Wales-wide picture and many of our schools are in poor condition.

We don't want our children taught in classrooms where buckets catch the rain leaking through the roof or where run-down facilities cannot be used.

We also have increasing demand for Welsh medium education.At the same time, we know the funding we receive for education is reducing.

So these are the challenges we have been trying to address through our School Organisation Programme.

During the past year we have consulted parents, children, teachers, governors, employers and other groups on how we can overcome these issues.

We have listened carefully and the overwhelming message we received from these groups was that pupils must come first.And that is our priority.

We have looked at schools across the whole of Swansea, examining in detail pupil numbers, demand for places, funding, catchment areas, school buildings and a range of other factors.

Having done that, we are initially addressing these issues in Swansea West as part of the overall vision for Swansea.

This is a sensible, phased approach.Our current proposals include closing Dylan Thomas Community School and transferring pupils to Bishop Gore.

This is not a reflection on the level of teaching or provision at Dylan Thomas. Far from it. We are delighted with the commitment from everyone at the school. But I must stress this is not about addressing teaching standards.We have to address falling pupil numbers at Dylan Thomas.

The reality is that pupil numbers in secondary schools across Swansea are falling. This means vital funding is being spent on empty desks and chairs instead of the pupils and their needs.

The anticipated reduction in pupil numbers at Dylan Thomas means there will only be around 400 in the school in five years' time. If we do nothing, it will not be possible to provide the same choices in curriculum as pupils will be getting in other schools.

I know children, parents, governors and teachers have a strong bond with the school. I fully understand they don't want it to close.

But we have to put pupils first and ensure they have every opportunity to reach their potential.

The issue at Bishop Gore is different. While the building itself is very solid, the infrastructure is in poor condition. It also has to be adapted to meet the needs of pupils from Dylan Thomas.

Having examined these issues in detail and listened to the concerns of pupils, parents and other groups, we are proposing an exciting and major development for education in that part of Swansea.

We want to create a single school to give the pupils of Dylan Thomas and Bishop Gore the best facilities and opportunities. We want to create a school for the 21st Century that has facilities to meet the needs of all pupils.

That is why we want to invest £20 million in Bishop Gore to create a state-of-the-art school.

We can seize the opportunity to not just repair or replace out-of-date fittings, classrooms and equipment, but to completely refurbish the school and build new facilities.

During the refurbishment project, pupils will be taught on the two existing sites in order to phase the works. This will avoid having to close Bishop Gore during the refurbishment and disrupt pupils and teachers.This period will be challenging, but the outcome will be a school that sets new standards that we want all our schools to reach. The new Bishop Gore school will welcome, inspire and challenge all its pupils and staff. It will be a thriving school that is part of the community.

This is a new and bold approach that should excite everyone with an interest in education.

Refurbishing Bishop Gore this way is clearly a good option. It is a good long-term asset.

Our proposals also address the growing demand for Welsh medium education by building a new school for Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Llwynderw on the site of West Cross House.

Once again, we have listened to people's concerns over traffic management and environmental issues.

We commissioned architects who have stated that by demolishing West Cross House and relocating the provision for six children, they can use the natural contours of the site to reduce environmental impact in the area.

Demolishing West Cross House will also offer greater flexibility to address traffic concerns, including the existing issues at the two neighbouring primary schools.

This new school will give pupils at Llwynderw a fresh start in September 2008. They are currently being taught in temporary accommodation within Bishop Gore.

A new, purpose-built site will enable pupils to flourish in modern surroundings and accommodate growth in demand for Welsh medium education in the west of Swansea.

This is far better than closing an English medium school in the area and relocating Llwynderw to that site. There is not enough spare capacity in English medium schools in the area to take children from any closed school. Major building work would be needed at two of the other English medium schools to accommodate pupils from the closed school.

We believe our proposals for Dylan Thomas Community School, Bishop Gore School and Llwynderw are the best way forward.

We would not be suggesting these proposals unless we felt that in the longer-term they would benefit teachers, parents and our communities, while addressing falling pupil numbers, the condition of our school buildings, reduced funding and increasing demand for Welsh medium education.

But above all, we believe the proposals will benefit pupils.

£20M FOR CITY SUPER SCHOOL

20 August 2005

One of Swansea's largest comprehensive schools is in line for a massive £20 million makeover, it emerged today. The upgrade plan is a keystone to a big education shake-up underway in the city.

It had always been intended it would get a new look as part of a controversial proposal to shut down Dylan Thomas Compre- hensive in Cockett and switch its pupils to Bishop Gore instead. But the Post can reveal today that is now being massively boosted.

£20 million will now go on giving it a new look bringing with it the best educational facilities on offer anywhere in Swansea. The aim is to create a site which can also house pupils from Dylan Thomas School and give them top class education.

Work would include updating existing buildings and constructing new facilities at the De La Beche Road site.Pupils will be taught in both sites while the work is carried out although details of how this will work are still being drawn up.

It is not known if, or for how long they would have to switch between the two.Dates for when work at Bishop Gore will begin are also sketchy, with the proposals having to be given the thumbs up from the Cabinet before contractors can move in.

A new round of consultations with parents and teachers would also have to begin.Any objections raised by the public would mean the scheme going to the Assembly for final approval - delaying the start date further.

The move is being seen as a sweetener to parents furious over the Dylan Thomas closure proposal. They have campaigned against the plans.

But Mike Day, cabinet member for education, said today that he believed the plans were the best way forward for the city.

"If accepted, this would be a school that pupils, parents and teachers can be proud of," he added.

"It will set the standard for other schools in Swansea and will show what can be achieved if we address issues such as falling rolls and the condition of our schools.

"This proposal will send a loud and clear message that the council is serious about improving schools and education.

"This is a major investment that will help to transform education for children in Swansea."

AT-RISK SCHOOL 'HEART OF COMMUNITY'

15 August 2005

Parents have warned that the closure of a village school would rip the heart out of their community. Swansea Council is shutting Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg Garnswllt as part of a big education shake-up.

The decision was made on council estimates showing there would be just seven pupils at the school in May.

But actual figures for the September term have more than doubled, with around 15 children expected at the school by Christmas.Parent and chairman of the board of governors Gareth Davies said the school should be given a second chance.

"There are no shops in the village, no library, no pub. All we have is the school and a post office.

"People with young families will not move here if there is not a school for their children. The population is already ageing and closing Garnswllt school will make things worse."

Mr Davies said councillors should admit they had made a mistake and look at the school's future again.

He said: "What I'm most annoyed about is that there has never been another option offered for the school.

"The Assembly says every avenue needs to be exhausted before closure is considered. The only option they have come out with is closure.

"We would like to see the school federated, at least for a couple of years to see what happens."

That would mean keeping the school open and merging with another. There would be one head teacher looking after two separate schools.

"It would be a cost-saving measure and we could see how pupil numbers were after that."

Parents are already planning to lodge formal opposition to closure, automatically triggering a review of the decision by the Welsh Assembly Government.

Cabinet education portfolio holder Mike Day said pupils from Garnswllt would move to either YGG Bryniago or YGG Felindre.

Mr Day insisted: "The number of pupils who are expected to attend the school from September makes its future unviable."