Report
of the Director of Education Leisure and Lifelong Learning
Decision:
1. That having given due regard to the responses to
consultation and the impact assessments in relation to equality, risk,
community usage and Welsh language together with the legal implications, in
line with Section 48 of the School Standards and Organisation (Wales) Act 2013,
the statutory publication of a proposal to make arrangements for pupils who
would otherwise attend Cymer Afan Comprehensive School
to receive their secondary education at Ysgol Cwm Brombil and to close Cymer Afan
Comprehensive, be approved.
2. That the proposed date of implementation be 1 September 2019.
3. That Notice of the proposal be published on 26 June 2018,
allowing 28 days for receipt of objections.
Minutes:
The Chairperson thanked the
Local Members present and all Officers involved in the consultation process.
Members expressed concern for
children with additional learning needs, but acknowledged that this was
addressed in the circulated report.
Officers highlighted that Dyffryn School (as proxy for Ysgol Cwm Brombil, yet to open) had a good record of supporting
pupils with additional learning needs (ALN) and offered a wide range of support
to pupils, the new Head Teacher at Ysgol Cwm Brombil
also had a good understanding of pupil’s well-being.
It was noted that the Community
Impact Assessment (CIA) had been carried out prior to the consultation, this
recognised that community based activities currently being carried out in Cymer
Afan School, could be distributed to alternative
locations across the upper Afan Valley.
Members highlighted that a new
school outside the Afan Valley could open up new
experiences and opportunities for children living there, also specialist
teaching may be available which pupils attending Cymer Afan
may not have access to now.
Concerns were raised on the
affect the closure of the school would have on the primary schools in the upper
Afan Valley.
Officers confirmed that currently there were no plans to close the any
of the primary schools in the upper Afan Valley.
The Officers explained that if
a visit was requested, there was an opportunity for parents to visit Ysgol Cwm Brombil.
With reference to a previous
meeting intended to discuss Health Service provision as part of a hub of
service providers, the Chief Executive stated that if the Health Board was
thinking of improving health facilities in the upper Afan
Valley, this was matter for the Health Board to come forward with a plan for delivering
the necessary health facilities and providing the appropriate accommodation, not
the Local Authority.
Members explained that this was
about educating children not about the building, the benefits of 21st
Century education was shown on Paragraph 52, of the circulated report.
Members outlined there had been
a long and extended consultation period lasting from 11 December 2017–14
February 2018.
Members highlighted that the
work of the Neath Port Talbot Valleys’ Task Force was a vision and was not
funded, the Authority was unable to deliver all objectives with Welsh funding
decreasing.
Decision:
1. That having given due regard to the responses to
consultation and the impact assessments in relation to equality, risk,
community usage and Welsh language together with the legal implications, in
line with Section 48 of the School Standards and Organisation (Wales) Act 2013,
the statutory publication of a proposal to make arrangements for pupils who
would otherwise attend Cymer Afan Comprehensive
School to receive their secondary education at Ysgol Cwm Brombil
and to close Cymer Afan Comprehensive, be approved.
2. That the proposed date of implementation be 1 September
2019.
3. That Notice of the proposal be published on 26 June
2018, allowing 28 days for receipt of objections.
Reason for Decision:
This decision is necessary
to comply with the formal publication
requirements of the School
Organisation Code and associated
Legislation. A draft
Statutory Notice was attached to the circulated report at Appendix I. Implementation of the proposal will enable
the Council to promote high educational standards and the fulfilment of every
child’s potential. It will also enable the Council to meet its duty to secure
efficient education in its area.
Implementation of Decision:
The
decision will be implemented after the three day call in period.
Supporting documents: