Cabinet to see school organisaton programme plans

5 August 2005 (Swansea Council Website)

PLANS that will help shape the future of education in Swansea for a decade are to go to the council's Cabinet next week.

The authority's school organisation programme is designed to support the delivery of top quality education for the pupils of Swansea over the next 10 years.

And it aims to tackle the growing number of surplus places in the city's schools to ensure that cash spent on education goes on pupils rather than empty seats in classrooms.

Following wide-ranging consultations, recommendations going to Cabinet on August 11 will consider proposals that aim to create a new special teaching facility at Pontarddulais Comprehensive School.

The meeting will also decide whether or not to accept recommendations that call for an all-through primary school for Townhill and the closure of Garnswllt Primary school.
But the council has decided not to make a decision on the future of Dylan Thomas School or Llwynderw until later this month when it has had more time to evaluate the large volume of consultation further.

Cllr Day said, "Cabinet will see the feedback from the consultation on Dylan Thomas and Llwynderw next Thursday, but evaluation of it is still ongoing and officers will take their time on it before further reports on these proposals will be discussed at our next meeting on August 25."

Cabinet Member for Education Mike Day said, "Anything that impacts on schools will have consequences for pupils now and in the future. It is only right that feedback on each of the proposals gets clear and careful consideration.

"That's why we are looking at Townhill, Garnswllt and Pontarddulais now and will take more time in considering Dylan Thomas and YGG Llwynderw."

The decision to delay consideration of Dylan Thomas and YGG Llwynderw will not affect the school organisation programme as a whole.

If any of the proposals are accepted the next step would be to publish Statutory Notices early next month. That would be followed by a two-month period during which any objections can be registered.

If there is one or more objection to any proposal before the November 5 deadline, the proposal goes to Welsh Assembly Government Minister Jane Davidson for a decision.

Cllr Day said, "I think it's important that people understand that whatever decisions we may reach, nothing is final unless we choose not to proceed with any particular proposal.

"If Cabinet does agree to move ahead with any proposals, people will have ample chance to register objections in the coming two months."