CITY SCHOOL FIGHT WINS VITAL DELAY

5 August 2005

Protesters fighting Swansea's controversial education shake-up have claimed an important victory today in the fight to save two city schools. After being snowed under by an avalanche of objections, education bosses have announced a vital change in their timetable for closures.A decision on the future of under-threat Dylan Thomas School and Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg Llwynderw has been put back two weeks.

D-Day for Dylan Thomas will now be on August 25 to allow council officials more time to sift through a mountain of objections.

However, a decision on less high profile changes to provision at Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg Garnswllt, Townhill and Pontarddulais primaries will go ahead as planned on August 11.

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 taking more time in considering Dylan Thomas and Llwynderw."

He added: "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.''

But groups fighting the planned shake-up of the two schools say the council's rethink shows their message that they will not give up is slowly sinking in.

Chairman of governors at Dylan Thomas, Dereck Roberts, said today: "I'm not at all surprised about this because there are arguments that need to be addressed.

"It means they are having to consider the submissions that we have made - many of which are very robust.

"It shows the campaign by the parents and school governors has made a difference and has had an impact.

"I still believe the council thought Dylan Thomas School would just roll over and die. It will not."

Since the plans were announced in June a sustained campaign has been launched during the council's six-week consultation process which ended on July 13.

Under the proposals, Dylan Thomas Community School in Cockett would close in 2007 and all its pupils would be sent to a revamped Bishop Gore site.

YGG Llwynderw will be moved from its temporary site in De La Beche Road, Sketty, to new premises in West Cross Lane, West Cross.

But parents at Grange Primary and St David's Roman Catholic School have protested against the plan which would see three city primaries housed in one street.

And parents at Dylan Thomas claim axing the school, which was praised in last year's Estyn report, will only disrupt their children's education.

Sheila Lewis, who has two children who attend the school, said: "We're all holding our breath at the moment after this announcement.

"I think the council have had to go back to the drawing board on this one.

"Because they now know they are wrong and they have to find a way to get out of it."