Demand for Welsh education means a new school in Barry

Friday, 27 November 2009

THE Vale Council is taking the first steps which could lead to a new Welsh language primary school in Barry – a school that will eventually take 420 pupils, PHILIP IRWIN reports.
This new school, which will be built in the grounds of the Welsh medium Ysgol Bro Morgannwg will start life as a “seed” school in September 2010.
A “seed” school is likely to start initially with temporary classrooms, and the headship will be shared between two existing heads, who will step aside when the school has enough pupils to justify having its own head.
The decision has been taken because at present in Barry, Ysgol St Baruc has a capacity of 117 for its reception classes, and demand for September 2010 is forecast to be 128, with a further rise forecast in September 2011 to 145.
A similar reorganisation will be needed in Penarth and Dinas Powys, where demand is still exceeding supply.
The existing Welsh medium school, Ysgol Pen y Garth, is also facing a rise in pupil numbers, but in this case, its rear classroom block was designed to be extended with “minimal disruption to the rest of the school” and the preferred option there is to build two new classrooms.
This will see its school roll rise from 350 to 420.
In Barry, the council believes there are significant advantages in having Welsh medium primary and secondary schools close to each other. In effect, it would create a “Welsh learning campus”.
In the western Vale, a similar seed school will be created in Llantwit Major, close to the comprehensive school, and this will be designed to grow to 210 places.
The only Welsh medium school in the western Vale, Iolo Morganwg in Cowbridge, is already over-subscribed.
Between 2001 and 2006, between 10 and 11 per cent of Vale primary school children were receiving Welsh medium education and, between 2007 and 2009, reception intake was consistently above 13 per cent.
However, the council says a Vale-wide survey of school preference revealed that, of those responding, 26 per cent of parents with children under three years of age are very likely to require a Welsh medium school place for their children.
The cabinet member for education and lifelong learning, Coun Tony Hampton said: “The survey highlights an unmet or latent demand for Welsh medium education due to the existing distribution of Welsh medium primary schools in the Vale, and the travel distances involved.”
The Plaid AM Chris Franks said: “The sustained growth of Welsh medium education has encouraged the council to make these plans.
“The new school in Barry is long overdue, as is the starter class in Llantwit Major.”
However, Coun Franks said that the Vale Council was making a late start. He commented: “Welsh medium schools in Barry are at bursting point. The plan to use land at the secondary school is very creative.
“However, the Vale has not allocated money for the new school. All the plans will be futile if the council fails to properly fund the schemes.
“I would be interested to learn the views of parents of Ysgol Sant Baruc pupils regarding relocating the school.”
Labour’s parliamentary candidate in the Vale, Alana Davies, who is the cabinet member for education in neighbouring Bridgend said: “The Vale Council has assessed the demand for Welsh medium education and is clearly looking to address the current lack of reception places.
“There are questions around the timescales involved, if these proposals are to be implemented by September 2010, it is important that there is full consultation about any plans for new provision in all parts of the Vale.”

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