CLOSURE IS NOT AN OPTION

30 July 2005

In his suggestion of revisiting the Mayals Primary School option rather than using land in West Cross as the best alternative for Ysgol Gynradd Gyymraeg Llynderw, I feel John Jones (Post, July 27) is missing one fundamental point: that is the closure of Mayals primary would result in educational and social disruption. Although I am not endorsing the proposal, the site at West Cross will not result in the closure of Grange or St David's as these schools will remain intact.

I feel disappointed that Mr Jones advocates the closure of a school and does not consider the educational and emotional effect on the children to be of importance, when there are alternatives. Therefore I do not feel that re-examining the Mayals option is the way forward to resolving the situation.

If this is the case, then clearly the council has no idea of how to implement the school reorganisation plan.

Mrs R Thomas, Wentworth Crescent, Mayals, Swansea

WHAT IS THIS SAYING TO US?

27 July 2005

You would think that Swansea head teacher Joe Blackburn would already have enough to do looking after one of the city's largest schools, Bishop Vaughan Comprehensive School in Morriston. But now the governors have agreed to allow him to also take over the headship of closure-threatened Dylan Thomas school in Cockett.

Mr Blackburn is a capable head but how exactly is he expected to lead two major schools with such diverse natures on separate sites miles apart?

The reluctance to appoint a full-time head at Dylan Thomas given its uncertain future is understandable. But no matter what decision is made the school will still need a leader.

The obvious answer was to have made the existing deputy head the acting head teacher. If for some reason this was not possible there are lots of efficient deputy heads in other schools in Swansea who could have taken on the role in the short term.

Mr Blackburn's appointment is a further put down to parents at Dylan Thomas who are fighting to save their school. They will see it as another indicator that a decision to close it has already been made.

It is also an injustice to the pupils and staff at both schools. They need and deserve a full time head teacher.

WRONG SITE FOR SCHOOL

27 July 2005

As a lifelong supporter of Welsh-medium education, I wish to add my own comments on the current debate on the siting of the new Welsh-medium school on the site of the West Cross House children's home. I obviously sympathise with the frustrations of those parents desperate for a Welsh school in the catchments of Swansea West. This has been too long in coming - a situation that ultimately is down to the priorities of our elected members and council officers.

The prospect of a new school at last must seem like the answer to the prayers of parents in the west of Swansea wishing to have their children educated in Welsh.

How many of them, I wonder, have been up to look at the proposed site.

Does this really offer space for the facilities that would be required for the education of our children into the 21st Century? It would hardly accommodate 200, taking into account the need to provide parking/turning space, hall, cooking facilities, playground etc - even if you consider sharing the playing field of another school acceptable.

And what about the foundation curriculum, with its increased requirements for space to allow younger children to learn through play?

Indeed if you look at the size of the proposed school building you will see that its outline is smaller than the playground of Grange Primary. Therefore, the conditions are either going to be extremely cramped or will be subject to the compromises of a multi-storey building with the attendant problems of lifts and stairs.I

s this what we really want?

Last September the council proposed the closure of Mayals School and the siting of Llwynderw there. Because it became politically difficult, the council retreated from this correctly identified best option.

Surely, the council must re-examine either this option, which would enable the relocation of Llwynderw with a timescale similar to the present proposal, or the option of buying land (which has been agreed in outline with local landowners) for new build. The council maintains the latter option would be too expensive but it plainly has not discounted the costs of road widening and relocation of a children's home associated with the West Cross Lane site!

I would urge all those with an interest in Welsh-medium education to take a look at the proposed site before putting out the flags.I

would also urge any councillors with influence on the cabinet to convince them to reject the latest proposal in the interest of the future of Welsh-medium education. To accept it would be to accept not second but third or fourth best!

John Jones, Port Tennant Road, Swansea

THREE SCHOOLS AT RISK IN EDUCATION SHAKE-UP

27 July 2005

The future of Dylan Thomas school was thrown into doubt when Swansea Council announced plans for a borough-wide shake-up in education. The controversial plans include proposals for a new specialist teaching facility at Pontarddulais Comprehensive School, relocation of a Welsh-medium primary school to West Cross and millions of pounds of investment at Bishop Gore Comprehensive School.

But it could also see Dylan Thomas school closed and their pupils sent to Bishop Gore instead.

Plans also propose closing Garnswllt Primary School and Bryn Nursery.Council officers are now working through responses from a consultation process involving teachers, governors, parents and pupils, and which includes petitions against the closures.

The views will be included in a report to be presented to the council next month. If the plans are agreed they will lead to the closure of all three schools.

FURTHER FEARS FOR FUTURE AS SCHOOL GETS SHARED HEAD

27 July 2005

Dylan Thomas School is to share a head teacher for the next school year, it has emerged. The appointment comes amid much speculation over the future of the school, which faces the axe in a city-wide controversial education shake-up.

Governors at the school decided that the uncertainty over the school's future meant that they were unable to appoint a permanent new head teacher, following the departure of existing head Malcolm Willis this month as the school breaks up for summer.

The new acting head teacher will be Joe Blackburn, the head teacher of the 1,276-pupil Bishop Vaughan Catholic Comprehensive School.

As acting head teacher, he will combine responsibilities for both schools.He will assume his new duties as acting head teacher at Dylan Thomas School from the start of the new term in September.

He will continue in his post until March next year, when the situation will be reviewed.

A spokesman for the local authority said: "The authority is grateful for Bishop Vaughan governors in allowing Mr Blackburn to be acting head teacher at Dylan Thomas School, for the period September 1, 2005 to March 31, 2006.

"Mr Blackburn is a highly experienced head teacher, who will be able to support Dylan Thomas School and governors as acting head teacher in a period of uncertainty for the future of this school.

"He will continue also to lead Bishop Vaughan School."

Both schools' senior staff have also been given additional responsibilities, to be funded from existing school delegated budgets, to enable Mr Blackburn to provide leadership to both schools.

Chairman of governors at Dylan Thomas school, Dereck Roberts, said: "We cannot make a full-time appointment in the current circumstances because we don't know where we are.

"But the appointment is more than just a head teacher. Both schools have revamped their middle management structure and we are satisfied that Mr Blackburn will be able to provide the leadership the school needs."

Former head Malcolm Willis is taking on a new appointment at a school in Bristol next term. He had decided to leave before the uncertainty over the future of Dylan Thomas School was first revealed.

"We are very proud of what Mr Willis has achieved here," added Mr Roberts.

One Bishop Vaughan parent however said today there was some disquiet about having to loan out their head.

She added: "The news has come as a bit of a shock to us here. Mr Blackburn is a good head. There are a lot of children at the school and I think they deserve somebody at the helm full time."

SCHOOL MOVE 'WILL CAUSE TRAFFIC CHAOS'

26 July 2005

Plans to house three city primaries in one West Cross street under Swansea's big schools shake-up have been branded an accident waiting to happen. Head teacher Colin Greenwood says children at his St David's RC School will be put at risk on the roads because of the massive intake of new pupils and traffic.

It comes after child health expert, Professor Gareth Morgan, said pollution could rise to dangerous levels at the school's busy West Cross Avenue site.

Under the proposals, passed by Swansea Council last month, Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg Llwynderw will be moved to a new site in busy West Cross Avenue in 2008. The Welsh school is currently housed temporarily at Bishop Gore comprehensive in Sketty but badly needs a new base, council leaders have said.

But opponents to the plan claim housing the 70-pupil school next to Grange primary and nearby St David's Roman Catholic School will create traffic chaos.Professor Morgan's comments were supported today by the head teacher at his children's St David's School, Colin Greenwood.

Mr Greenwood said: "There are a number of issues I am concerned about from the health and safety point of view.

"There are 420 pupils here from three educational establishments here at the moment and another one will just add to the number of children arriving every day. We already have a problem with parking here but with what the council is proposing it will get much worse.

"It is already an accident waiting to happen and we are very concerned about what will happen when the number of children, busses and cars increases."

A Swansea Council spokesman said all relevant groups were being consulted on the proposals and had the chance to put their views forward to council leader Chris Holley and cabinet member for education Councillor Mike Day.

The spokesman said: "Consultation meetings took place at St David's School on June 29 that involved the governing body, the staff, the parents and the pupils. The feedback from that meeting is currently being assessed.

"However those who attended the meetings would have been assured that if the proposals are agreed by cabinet a comprehensive traffic management plan would be introduced in the area.

"Suitable arrangements for traffic management would also be a key part of any planning application if any proposals for a new school in the area is approved."

PUPILS PUT DOUBTS ASIDE FOR BIG DAY

25 July 2005

Staff and pupils at a closure-threatened Swansea school stepped out from the shadow over their future to end the term on a high note. All 550 pupils of Dylan Thomas Community School, Cockett, attended an end-of-term celebration assembly - in the hope there would be many more such occasions in years to come.

Awards were presented, not just to achievers, but to those who had made every effort to excel in different, non-academic ways.

Extracts from the many letters of support the school had received in its fight to stave off a merger with Bishop Gore were read by pupils.

And quotations from its last inspection by Estyn were read out, including reference to it being a "rapidly improving" school.

Assistant head Mark Gibbs said a huge improvement in attendance was testament to pupils' growing appreciation of the strident efforts that were being made to raise the ethos and esteem of the school.

The attendance record of one child, he said, had improved by more than 40 per cent.

A prize for the school's most successful sports performances went to pupils who came through special teaching facilities.

They won 31 gold, 10 silver and five bronze medals in inter-school competitions.

Awards for citizens of the year, as chosen by the respective head of year, went to James Sheils and Natalie Touze (year seven), Dale Tracey and Jonathan Davies (year eight), Annemarie Packington and Francis Salter (year nine) and Bahader Mirzaei and Kenny Chan (year 10).

Komal Chaudry and Ashleigh Jones won awards for exceptional attainment, while Aisyah Bukhari, Alpha Bayoh and Mumtahina Maria won awards for citizenship of distinction.

Townhill councillor Geoff Burtonshaw said: "Despite the fact that the school is facing closure the evening still went ahead and I hear everybody enjoyed it."

ATTENTION WANDERING

23 July 2005

Since being on the campaign team to oppose the closure of Dylan Thomas Community School, I have become very politically minded. So much so I have been drawn to even tuning in to the BBC Parliament channel (sad life, this campaign has most definitely taken over) and watching all those wonderful people making very important decisions on our lives. Recently, I watched in disbelief as while a member was making a very important speech on the future of the Welsh Development Agency on July 13, in the background a sweet lady was very lovingly and intensely cleaning her computer keyboard with a cotton bud. I thought it was riveting stuff, which part of the keyboard was she going to clean next? Space bar? F keys?

I hope if the closure is discussed at the Assembly, that we get more interest out of all the members, seeing how it will affect and ruin hundreds of people's lives? Marvellous things, cameras.

Sheila Lewis, Gwynfor Road, Cockett, Swansea

BIG RESPONSE TO SCHOOL SHAKE-UP PROPOSALS

23 July 2005

Swansea Council says it has had a huge response to its consultation on the future of school organisation in the city. Cabinet is due to meet next month to discuss the future of proposals that, if agreed, would lead to the closure of Dylan Thomas Comprehensive School, Garnswllt Primary School and Bryn Nursery.

The controversial programme also includes proposals for the opening of a new specialist teaching facility at Pontarddulais Comprehensive School, relocation of a Welsh- medium primary school to West Cross and millions of pounds of investment at Bishop Gore Comprehensive School.

Officers are now sifting through the responses to a month-long consultation that involved teachers, governors, parents and pupils.

The responses included letters, depositions from various organisations and petitions.

They will all be read so that the views expressed in them can be taken into account in the report to cabinet.

Cabinet member for education Mike Day said: "I am very impressed by the amount of thought and effort people have put into participating in this process.

"It demonstrates how strongly people feel about the importance and the future of education in Swansea.

"What's important to everyone is that over the next 10 years we make sure that investment in education goes where it is needed - on pupils and on schools and not on empty desks and classrooms."

The proposed closure of Dylan Thomas and Garnswllt schools has already led to numerous protests, and the relocation of a Welsh-medium primary school to West Cross has also sparked opposition.

Councillor Day said: "Cabinet hasn't made any decisions yet on the school organisation programme and while we will be giving our view in August, that is not the end of the matter.

There will still be plenty of time next term for people who disagree with anything we decide next month to say so and be able to influence the outcome."

WE ACTED IN GOOD FAITH

22 July 2005

Correspondent Rob Lowe claims that proposals to close Dylan Thomas School are politically motivated (Have Your Say, July 15). It is unfortunate that Mr Lowe has felt the need to reduce the issue to this level after the determined, intelligent and well-organised campaign to retain the school by governors, pupils, teachers and parents has won such respect across the city.

Whether you agree with them or not, councillors have acted throughout in good faith and have pursued what they believe is in the best interests of children's educational provision in the city.

The suggestion that proposals fit the electoral interests of the Liberal Democrats is just nonsense. It is true there are three Liberal Democrats councillors in the Sketty Ward but there is one in the Cockett Ward as well and the party has ambitions to win more.

The Liberal Democrats also have ambitions to build on their outstanding second place in Swansea West in the General Election.

If they had wanted to use their position on the council to further their political interests then they would have done nothing about the funding crisis facing our schools due to surplus places.

That seems to be what Labour and Plaid Cymru want. Such a course would be irresponsible.

Councillor Peter Black, AM for South Wales West

DYLAN THOMAS DATA IS BLOCKED

21 July 2005

Education bosses in Swansea have blocked an attempt to try to get key information into the closure of Dylan Thomas School made public, it was revealed today. Chairman of the school's governing committee Dereck Roberts had lodged a Freedom of Information request with Swansea Council.

Under the terms of the new Act he hoped to find out exactly why Dylan Thomas Community School in Cockett has been earmarked for possible controversial closure.

But the attempt was thwarted when council bosses decreed that most of the information into the decision - which is currently under public consultation - is exempt from release.

Mike Jones, the education department's freedom of information officer, claimed the documents could "prejudice the effective conduct of public affairs".

He said in a letter to them: "The proposal to close Dylan Thomas School is still a matter which is currently under consideration."Releasing the information could have an effect on the current deliberations and could prejudice the decision-making process."

Mr Roberts had identified for disclosure all notes made in briefing meetings, background papers and minutes of meetings into the proposed closure of the school.

He was hoping to uncover what alternatives to the closure of Dylan Thomas had been discussed by councillors behind closed doors.

"This information has never been made public and could show how the decision was made to close our school," he said. "It is very important to us."

Mr Roberts has led the fight to save Dylan Thomas and following the council's refusal said he will challenge the decision and take it to Information Commissioner for Wales.

"On two of the points made by the council I don't have a problem but I do believe that the alternatives discussed need to be made public to inform the debate.

"This is a classic example of information being withheld from the public and it is wrong. When the decision was discussed I believe a series of options should have been presented."

A Swansea Council spokeswoman said today: "The council has responded by letter outlining the reasons why the information requested is exempt under the Freedom of Information Act.

"However, we have also clearly outlined the procedures for appealing against this decision."

RIVAL PARTIES CLASH OVER SCHOOL CLOSURES CLAIMS

18 July 2005

A row has broken out between rival parties after a Labour leaflet criticised the current council's handling of school closures in Swansea. West Cross Labour councillors Des Thomas and Mark Child say in a party leaflet that Dylan Thomas Community School is being sold to raise money to reopen the city's leisure centre.

The leaflet also says that Cockett School was chosen above Bishop Gore because it is in a Labour-supported ward.But Lib-Dem councillor Rene Kinzett has hit back.

He said: "The people of West Cross are not being well served by councillors who think nothing of sending out leaflets which seek to twist the truth and make outright lies in the vain hope of attracting more votes.

"It says we are selling schools to fund the leisure centre refurbishment."We all know the capital budget for reopening the leisure centre is totally ring-fenced and not dependent on any extra income sources.

"They also say the school reorganisation plan is politically motivated.

"That is a scandalous and deeply irresponsible accusation.

"The statutory consultation exercise is ongoing and the recommendations arise from the professional advice given to councillors by officers - the same ones who used to advise Labour when they closed Dynevor School and Penlan School."

Councillor Des Thomas said he was standing by his remarks.

SCHOOL USED AS POLITICAL FOOTBALL - AM CLAIMS

BRIAN WALTERS - POLITICAL EDITOR - 16 July 2005

Swansea's controversial schools shake-up is being used as a political football, according to one city Assembly member. Labour AM Andrew Davies has criticised Assembly colleagues for using the issue to score political points.

It comes after praise for a Swansea school's approach to the special educational needs of some of its pupils.Leading an Assembly debate recently, Conservative AM Alun Cairns spoke highly of the first-class facilities and support structures that were in place in Cockett's Dylan Thomas Community School.

Mr Cairns said he found it alarming that Swansea Council was consulting on whether the school should close, with pupils being transferred to Bishop Gore in Sketty.

Labour AMs have now accused him of cheap opportunism and called on him to come clean.

"Does he support his Tory colleagues on the council who are advocating the school's closure at the expense of many children who rely on the excellent SEN facilities offered at Dylan Thomas?" said Swansea West AM Andrew Davies.

"He has absolutely failed to mention that a combination of Liberal Democrat and Tory councillors is proposing to close this much-loved community school in Swansea.

"I am angry that Dylan Thomas school is being used as a political football by both the Conservative and the Liberal Democrat parties.

"They praise the school's special needs provision when it suits them but are willing to close a vital community school that excels at providing the care they currently espouse. Pupils must come before profit.

"Swansea East AM Val Lloyd said she had always supported the pupils, staff and governors of Dylan Thomas school to ensure the school's vital SEN resources were protected from the threat of closure.

She said: "The Lib Dems, the Conservatives and the Independents who advocate closing down the school have not thought of the potential consequences to pupils who rely on the specialist facilities at Dylan Thomas that allow many of the pupils to remain in a mainstream school.

"For a Conservative AM publicly to criticise the policy of his party within the council is astonishing and I look forward to hearing the response from the council to Alun Cairns's comments.

"Mr Cairns said his strongly held views followed a visit he made to the school.

"The whole future of Dylan Thomas school has been the subject of a consultation that has just finished," he said.

"My comments concerned just one feature of the school and I'm sorry these two Labour AMs don't acknowledge my support for the culture which enables SEN pupils to develop to their full potential.

"Liberal Democrat AM Peter Black, who chairs the Assembly's education committee, described the Labour AMs' attack as churlish and cynical.

"No decision has been taken to close Dylan Thomas school," he stressed.

"There has been a consultation exercise and Alun Cairns' observations in terms of the school's excellent SEN record are perfectly valid."

PARENTS TO FIGHT CALL FOR CLOSURE

Liz Perkins - 16 June 2005

Parents of youngsters at a primary school threatened with closure are considering whether to take their fight to the Assembly. Representatives from Welsh pressure group Cymdeithas yr Iaith joined mums and dads from Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg Garnswllt to offer advice on how to save the school from closing.

Placard-waving pupils also took part in the meeting at Garnswllt village hall and staged a mini-protest.Around 40 concerned mums and dads were at the meeting where they were told to lobby their local AMs on the issue.

The school closure is part of Swansea Council's reorganisation, which also includes closing Dylan Thomas School and transferring the pupils to Bishop Gore comprehensive.

Education leaders say their controversial plans will free up £39 million which could be ploughed back into education in the county.

The decision to proceed with consultation on the proposed closures was taken by Swansea Council's cabinet last Thursday.Cymdeithas yr Iaith education spokesman Ffred Ffransis warned parents at the meeting that they would have to fight if they wanted to keep the school open.

He said: "A school like this is something which should be treasured. You need to show how successful little schools can be."

We have to consider the effect on the Welsh language and put education first.

"You should contact all the opposition parties in the Assembly and tell them, do you realise what your councillors in Swansea are doing?

"If you can get this message of support from those politicians in Cardiff, it will be a good thing.

"Parents are already aiming to get a petition underway in a bid to keep the school open.

Mr Ffransis said it was important that parents made their opposition known to the local authority.

He added: "We want to keep the school exactly as it is."

CONSULTATION OVER - NOW FOR FEEDBACK

Peter Slee - 15 July 2005

Swansea Council says it has finished its public consultation on plans to shake up the schools service in the city. Council officers and councillors have attended more than 30 meetings during the past two months to discuss proposals with parents, pupils and school staff.

Feedback from the consultation will now be considered before proposals go to cabinet in August.

The in-depth consultation follows a wide-ranging deliberation process from last autumn when the council asked thousands of parents, pupils, governors, staff and other interested parties for their views on the challenges facing education in Swansea.

It is expected during the next five years that there will be fewer pupils attending schools in Swansea.

The council's school organisation plan is designed to tackle falling pupil numbers, use resources more efficiently, maintain a flourishing school in every locality and improve the quality of school buildings.

The biggest shake-up centres on Swansea's Dylan Thomas Community School in Cockett, set to go if the council has its way. Parents there are furious at the move and have vowed to fight it all the way.

Mike Day, cabinet member for education, said: "We want to improve education and opportunities for every child in Swansea.

"We can only do this if we tackle the issues currently holding us back.

"Like every other council in Wales, we have to deal with falling pupil numbers, because at the moment we are spending vital resources on empty chairs and desks.

"We believe our proposals will bring huge benefits to pupils, parents and school staff by investing in the future of schools and pupils.

"It is also important, if any changes are proposed, that the council works closely with those potentially affected to ensure a smooth transition for everyone.

"The next stage will see the feedback and proposals discussed by the council's cabinet in August.

The current proposals include a recommendation that Dylan Thomas school is closed and the pupils transferred to Bishop Gore. There are also plans to create a new teaching facility for children with special needs at Pontarddulais Comprehensive School and to move the existing Welsh-medium primary school from its temporary location at Bishop Gore to a new site at West Cross.

Other main proposals include the closure of Garnswllt Primary School, which has very few pupils, and their transfer to other schools in the area. Bryn Nursery is also slated for closure, with pupils transferring to Townhill Primary School.

Meanwhile, today council officers emphatically denied claims by protesting parents at Dylan Thomas school that some of the figures relating to the reorganisation programme were fabricated.

A spokesman insisted: "This is absolutely not the case."

SCHOOL GOVERNORS MEET TO DECIDE BATTLE PLAN

15 June 2005

Governors from Swansea's under-threat Dylan Thomas School are meeting tonight to draw up their battle plans to keep it open. The angry board are due to put the final touches to a crucial document detailing their opposition to the controversial school reorganisation plans.

It will be presented to Swansea Council after the draft is agreed as the school's complete argument to keep its doors open. And when the official objection is handed over governors hope it will help win the school a stay of execution after the council's formal consultation gets under way.

Education bosses want to close the Cockett community school and send its 500-plus pupils to Bishop Gore in September 2007. Plans to do so were given the go-ahead by councillors at a packed cabinet meeting last week.

A group of parents fighting the closure turned up to voice their opposition to the decision. It was announced as part of a major decade-long shake-up of Swansea's education system which is set to affect every school in the city.

But the fight to keep it open looks set to continue.

Governors have already threatened not to appoint a new head teacher when the current head, Malcolm Willis, leaves in September.

And under local authority rules once the governors' objection is made and consultation completed, the final decision will rest with the Assembly. That means protesters will be able to lobby the Assembly, which also has to carry out a period of consultation, to reverse Swansea Council's decision.

It is hoped this process could take until next year, delaying any planned closure.

Chairman of Dylan Thomas school governors Dereck Roberts said he had been overwhelmed by support."

We are receiving terrific support not just from people in Swansea but also from other schools across the UK facing closure," he said."

The council must now know we will not give up. Dylan Thomas School is here to stay."

PROFESSOR ATTACKS SCHOOL BUILD PLANS

Chris Peregrine - 14 July 2005

The professor of paediatrics at Swansea's new medical school has said that plans to build a new Welsh primary school in West Cross are flawed. Gareth Morgan is adamant that there are compelling health and safety reasons why the contentious proposals should be abandoned.

They are based on the current traffic levels in the area - and the extra movement which will inevitably be generated.Swansea Council's cabinet has sent out to public consultation its plans to shake up education in the city, including the West Cross proposals.

They involve moving Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg Llwynderw from its temporary site in the grounds of Bishop Gore school to alongside Grange and St David's Roman Catholic primaries in West Cross Avenue, West Cross.

Professor Morgan said there were already traffic problems with the two schools, something that would only get worse if a third school was built in the area.

As a parent of three children at St David's, he has already said his piece to education authority officers at a public meeting on the issue.

"I am concerned about the scheme on congestion, pollution and safety grounds," he said."You have lots of cars gridlocked now and carbon monoxide levels are going to rise.

"We are concerned about current levels and would be concerned about pollution levels rising.

"Professor Morgan said the catchment areas for the new school, stretching from Sketty to Gower, would inevitably bring a new influx of traffic to the area."

We are very concerned about traffic," he said.

"Parents park on roads around the schools now and other traffic has to try to pass them."

Professor Morgan said he was told that moving the school to West Cross fitted in with the availability of the site.

But he said: "That is the wrong starting point.

"It should be on educational needs and the welfare and safety of the children.

"I have been involved in planning children's facilities.

"We are extremely concerned that our overwhelming concerns about the welfare and safety of children were not taken as the starting point."

They must come first."

And he said the authority's plan to carry out a risk assessment on the traffic situation after the scheme reached the next stage was not good enough."

It needs to be done," he said.

A Swansea Council spokesman said: "All of the concerns raised by Professor Morgan will be addressed, as explained during the recent public consultation process.

"The council will carry out a major traffic impact assessment in the area.

"It will also be a planning requirement that a school travel plan is in place, in the same way that a plan was devised for the new Sketty school.

"The travel plan will be comprehensive and will consider a range of issues and options."

PUPILS' SPECIAL NEEDS APPEAL

14 July 2005

Big-hearted pupils are putting the needs of their disabled classmates at the front of their fight to save their school. More than 1,000 pupils have signed a petition opposing plans to close Dylan Thomas Community School.

The axe is set to fall on the Cockett-based facility followed by a merger with Bishop Gore because Swansea Council says its numbers are falling.

But pupils say closing the school would cause major problems for disabled pupils who rely on the facilities at the school.

Dale Tracey, aged 13, of Gendros, said: "We have disabled children in our school but we don't see them as disabled, we see them as our friends. There's no way Bishop Gore could look after them as we do."

Wheelchair-bound Daniel Ford, aged 11, of Dunvant, said: "They should keep the school open, it's a lovely school and I can easily get around and play with my friends."

Ricky Stevenson, aged 13, of Port Tenant, agreed saying: "If we move to another school I will miss my friends and it may not be as easy for wheelchairs."

The determined pupils have handed the petition to council leaders.

Annette Johnson, assistant head teacher, said she was very proud of her pupils.

She said: "They feel very strongly about it closing and are very worried about it."We're very proud of them, they have been absolutely tremendous. It's citizenship in action and they are responding really well to the challenge."

Stephen Spencer, aged 13, of Gendros, said: "I really don't want the school to close. We are a good school. We may be small but we are friendly.

"My message to the council is don't close the school."

FALLING PUPIL CASE FLAWED

14 July 2005

I believe that Swansea LEA's projected figures for falling numbers at Dylan Thomas school are currently flawed. It is claiming that there are 1,500 children within the catchment area who could attend the school. However, the school can only accommodate 652 pupils. This means that 848 pupils (1,500 minus 652) physically cannot attend Dylan Thomas and would have to go elsewhere. The pupil numbers at Dylan Thomas are already rising because of its good reputation. These numbers would be further enhanced with a bus service between the Quadrant and the school on a twice-daily basis (8am and 3pm).

I understand that Olchfa school has applied to have its pupil numbers reduced because it believes that rolls in excess of 2,000 are unmanageable. If this is the case, why would Bishop Gore want to spend £7 million to enable it to accommodate 2,350 pupils?

Oversized schools result in unmanageable classes, unaccounted-for absences, limited access for the disabled and subsequent lack of inclusion. Added to this is traffic management which, in the case of Sketty, is horrendous.

At a recent public meeting, when asked how the children presently at Dylan Thomas school would get to Bishop Gore, Anthony O'Sullivan, the council's spokesman on transport, declared that they could walk to school crocodile-fashion (when did he last talk to a 14-year-old?), or cycle - imagine 500 cyclists descending on Sketty Cross every morning and evening.

It is obvious that nothing about the school closure proposal has been thought through (or maybe just the thought of votes in Sketty).

R Lowe, Cwm Cadle, Portmead, Swansea

PUPILS COME OUT FIGHTING FOR SCHOOL

13 July 2005

Pupils at a closure-threatened Swansea school have handed in a petition of more than 1,000 names urging council bosses to have a rethink. The axe is set to fall on Dylan Thomas Community School with pupils transferring to Bishop Gore comprehensive in Sketty.

Parents had handed in a protest on Monday.They were followed by the children yesterday, backed by local councillors Vanessa Webb and Rhodri Thomas.

Councillor Webb said: "It's an excellent school and I don't think you should lightly consider closing such a successful school.

"It has a large number of children with disabilities who are very much included and integrated in the school. That's not something you can transplant.''

Annette Johnson, assistant head teacher, said she was very proud of her pupils.

"They have come here to hand over the petition and various letters they have written, as well as their response to the council's consultation document," she said.

"They feel very strongly about the school closing and are very worried about it."We are very proud of them," she added. "They have been absolutely tremendous. ''

Stephen Spencer, aged 13, of Gendros, said: "We are a good school. We may be small but we are friendly."

"My message to the council is this: don't close the school."

PARENTS HIT OUT AT SCHOOL REPORT

Ben Evans - 12 July 2005

Battling parents fighting to keep their children's school open have launched their own scathing attack on the proposals, claiming figures are flawed and fabricated. Members of Dylan Thomas's Parent Support Group yesterday handed over their objections to the plans, which could close the school, to senior education officers.

The campaigners, who joined forces to oppose the proposed axing of the comprehensive, claim the authority's report originally putting forward the proposals is distorted and inaccurate.

Their document was handed to education officer Kelly Small at County Hall yesterday.

It comes just a few days after governors presented their own formal statement of opposition to the council.

Pupils on the school council were also handing their own views on the scheme to the council today.

Parents say the number of children at the school is actually rising and are demanding to know where the council has got its information.

Many parents have also signed a series of letters saying they will not send their children to Bishop Gore - the school that the authority has earmarked to take the youngsters if Dylan Thomas shuts.

More than 200 were handed over by the support group, with hundreds more being sent in by individual parents.

The controversial plans to close Dylan Thomas form part of a city-wide shake-up of schools.

Under the proposals, the council wants to scrap the Cockett school and send its 500-plus pupils to Bishop Gore school in Sketty.

The council claims the scheme would tackle the problem of Swansea having too many school places for too few pupils.

Parent governor Rob Lowe, who is co-ordinating the campaign against the plans, said the protest was not about attacking other schools in the city.

He said: "There is nothing wrong with Bishop Gore - we are just not in the school closure business.

"The pupil numbers at Dylan Thomas have risen by seven per cent year on year.

"The largest fall in rolls is at the school that the council would like us to fill if ours closes."Olchfa applied to the Assembly for its numbers to be reduced from 2,000 to 1,800 as it could not cope with that many children.

"But if our children go to Bishop Gore then it will put the numbers there well in excess of 2,000."

Parent Sue Jones, of Townhill, said: "We are not going to give up."

HOW CAN THIS BE FAIR?

11 July 2005

After enduring three hours and 10 minutes of utter tedium at a Swansea City Council meeting, I was denied a proper answer to my question: "Why has the cabinet decided that my constitutional right to ask my councillor to inquire about the reasons behind the proposed closure of Dylan Thomas School should not be respected?''

I was told by the presiding officer that the closure "was not on the agenda'' therefore my question was "invalid''.

Plaid Cymru's motion was pulled at the last minute, which meant that elected members of all parties were denied a debate during the consultation period.

Will the political shenanigans of the coalition bias the outcome of the "consultation''?

R Lowe, Cwm Cadle, Portmead, Swansea

WELSH SCHOOL PLANS REVIEW

Leon Watson - 9 July 2005

Draft plans for a new five-year shake-up of Welsh language schooling in Swansea are now being considered. Swansea Council's latest Welsh education scheme report is being put together to set out the authority's strategy for boosting language learning in the city.

Key issues being discussed include ways to address the condition of school facilities and to cater for rising demand for places in the sector.

According to council estimates, over the next six years demand for Welsh school places in Swansea will rocket, with around 400 new pupils needing to be accommodated.

The new plan follows the council's report to cabinet last month which outlined the first steps in Swansea's big school shake-up for both English and Welsh schooling.

Under the plans, which will work alongside the Welsh education scheme, a permanent new home for Sketty's Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg Llwynderw has been found.

The Welsh primary, which has 70 pupils on its books, will move from its temporary site in the grounds of Bishop Gore to a new West Cross site in 2008.

Plans to open new Welsh medium primary and secondary schools offering provision to pupils up to age 19 will be considered at a later point.

An investigation into the need for places at Welsh schools in Morriston will also be undertaken by September this year.

Under Assembly rules, Swansea Council has until December 30 to get the plans finalised and approved by councillors and the Welsh Language Board.

Cabinet member for education Mike Day told the meeting: "We are not trying to set up a wall between English and Welsh education sectors.

"The reason for looking at this particular area is to try to get a handle on what specific provision is needed for Welsh language schooling."

'LOCATION' FACTOR IN FATE OF SCHOOL

7 July 2005

A Swansea west AM has questioned whether geography was a factor in the proposed closure of Dylan Thomas Community School. Alun Cairns, speaking on special educational needs at the Assembly, said: "I wonder if the same recommendation to close the Dylan Thomas school would be made if it was located in a more prosperous part of Swansea."

A reorganisation of education in Swansea suggests closing the school and transferring pupils to Bishop Gore school. But the plans could be decided in the Assembly if, as expected, parents and teachers oppose them

SCHOOL AXE FIGHTERS PRESENT THEIR CASE

Jason Evans - 05 July 2005

Almost 30 pages of reasons why parents, staff and governors believe Swansea's Dylan Thomas School should stay open have been handed to the council. It represents the Dylan Thomas campaigners' formal statement of opposition to the plans to axe the Cockett school.

The 26-page document contains all the governors' arguments for why the school should be saved.

And this formal objection means that if the council does decide to press ahead with the plans, the Assembly will have to review the decision.

Campaigners believe the review would give them another chance to get the closure plans thrown out.Handing over the report at County Hall, chairman of governors Dereck Roberts called on the council to reconsider plans to axe the school.

"The closure of Dylan Thomas school is not the answer to the problems facing education in the city," he said.

"A better solution has to be found.

"Everyone at the school is united in opposing the plans and we are determined to fight all the way."

Copies of the report are also being sent to local MPs and AMs as the campaigners widen the fight to save their school.

The plans to axe Dylan Thomas have proved hugely controversial.

As part of a city-wide shake-up of schools, the council wants to scrap the Cockett school and send its 500-plus pupils to Bishop Gore school in Sketty.

The council claims the scheme would tackle the problem of Swansea having too many school places for too few pupils.

It could also sell the land in Cockett and plough the money, which could be as much as £8.7 million, back into education in the city.

However, Mr Roberts said the council's sums did not add-up.

"We have gone through their arguments and they make no sense.

"We think we have a very strong case for saving the school," he said.

REPORT CLAIMS

5 July 2005

Key claims in the Dylan Thomas governors' report:

The planned closure would do nothing to address the problem of surplus places in city schools;

The council forecast for the number of children going to the school is incorrect;

The valuation put on the land is a speculative figure;

The issue of school transport has not been properly addressed;

Dylan Thomas's buildings already comply with the Disability Discrimination Act. Bishop Gore's do not; and,

The process which resulted in Dylan Thomas being named as a school considered for closure was flawed.

MEETING WAS JUST A FIASCO

04 July 2005

Recently I attended a consultation meeting at Grange Primary School in West Cross, Swansea, to discuss proposals for the new Welsh school with cabinet member for education Mike Day and highways department representatives. I would like to congratulate Mike Day on turning a fiasco into absolute farce to which only the appearance of Sir Norman Wisdom could have added any sanity.

Parents, grandparents, local residents and other concerned parties left this meeting totally confused and even more concerned.

We were informed that Swansea Council had no realistic costs for this development, knowing that the proposed school site had major drainage and serious traffic problems.

They were not even sure that the school would fit into the designated site. Will they decide this before or after they destroy 48 beautiful trees?

They did not know how many pupils would be attending the school, 400 or even 500, or how many coaches would be stuck in West Cross Lane.

How dare they propose this without addressing these serious problems. Major questions were asked time and again with no apparent answers. When the problems of adding to horrendous traffic in and around the West Cross area were addressed, their answer was simply: "This road is not one of Swansea's top 100 danger zones".

Gaynor Morgan, Druids Close, Swansea

DE-LA-BECHE ROAD NEW SPEED LIMIT

Jonathan Isaacs - columnist - 1 July 2005

Swansea Council has sensibly decided to introduce a 20mph speed limit along De-La-Beche Road in Sketty - a busy, narrow stretch that serves Bishop Gore comprehensive, a Welsh-language primary school, a surgery, two parks and a church. Less understandable is why the authority is planning a major extension of Bishop Gore to replace Dylan Thomas school in Cockett.

The move is certain to lead to even more traffic congestion along De-La- Beche Road, with 500 more pupils being transported to Bishop Gore every school day.

The logic behind the plan is difficult to fathom. Already there is major congestion outside Bishop Gore with buses jockeying for position at the start and end of each school day and most cars are showing little inclination to adhere to the new speed limit.

An even worse accident blackspot is being created.

FEARS OF CHAOS AT SCHOOL

Leon Watson - 4 July 2005

Swansea's Bishop Gore School could end up more busy than the Quadrant bus station if plans to give it 500 more pupils go ahead, it was claimed today. Governors fighting the closure of Dylan Thomas School fear that a massive increase in buses pulling up outside the Sketty school will put children at risk.

But Swansea Council has said buses will be catered for under planned changes at the Bishop Gore site.

If plans to close Dylan Thomas Community School go ahead in 2007, it will mean more than 570 children will be transferred to a revamped Bishop Gore.

The plans are part of the council's efforts to tackle falling school rolls - which mean there are too many places in Swansea for too few pupils.

The city comprehensive already has up to nine buses a day parking outside its gates in De-La-Beche Road during the busy school run.

But with the extra pupils being ferried in from Dylan Thomas's catchment area and up to nine buses already turning up every day, governors say this number will rocket.

"We think there will be at least 16 buses pulling up outside the school every day," said Dylan Thomas School parent governor Robin Lowe.

"And that is not including the minibuses that help disabled children or are used by social services.

"With all this extra traffic there will be chaos - it will be worse than the Quadrant bus station. And this will mean our children will be put at risk.

"It is already quite dangerous there during the school run."

At a consultation meeting held last week education bosses said they expected hundreds of pupils to cycle to school when the transfer is made.

But Mr Lowe said: "This will only make the situation worse. We are very concerned for the children's safety."

A spokesman from Swansea Council insisted that provision would be made to cope with the influx of buses when plans to pump £7 million into Bishop Gore were finalised.

He said: "As explained to parents at the public meeting, traffic issues will be dealt with when firm proposals for the enlarged Bishop Gore have been established.

"School buses will be accommodated as appropriate when all bus routes serving the enlarged school have been defined.

"The council is confident that by using appropriate techniques to encourage greater use of modes of travel other than the car, child safety will be preserved and an efficient means of getting children to and from school will be provided."