Agenda item

Cllr Chris Weaver and Norma Mackie declared a personal and prejudicial interest in this item, as  Governors at Gladstone Primary School, Cllr Weaver and Mackie left the room for consideration for consideration of this item.

Cllrs Burke declared a personal interest in this item, as her children attend a school in an affected ward.

Cllr Merry declared a personal interest in this item, as she is ward member for the area.

Cllr Sangani declared a personal interest in this item, as she is award member for and affected area.

RESOLVED: that

1.               the consideration by the Governing Body of St Monica’s Church in Wales Primary School of the proposal to transfer St Monica’s Church in Wales Primary School to the current Ysgol Mynydd Bychan site and establish nursery provision at the school, from September 2025 be noted.

2.               Subject to the agreement of the Governing Body of St Monica’s Church in Wales Primary School to proceed to publish its proposals, Officers be authorised to proceed to publish proposals in accordance with section 48 of The School Standards and Organisation (Wales) Act 2013 on proposals to:

·       Transfer Ysgol Mynydd Bychan to the current Allensbank Primary School site.

·       Increase the capacity of Ysgol Mynydd Bychan from 192 places (0.9FE) to 420 places (2FE) and increase the number of nursery places at Ysgol Mynydd Bychan from 64 to 96.

·       Amalgamate Allensbank and Gladstone Primary Schools:

The proposed changes would take effect from September 2025.

3.               It be noted that, prior to implementation of the proposals, financial resources must be identified to facilitate the process of organisational change of establishing the new two form entry primary school and the transfer of St Monica’s Church in Wales Primary School.

4.               It be noted that, prior to implementation of the proposals, a further report will be provided to the Cabinet providing details of any objections received, the proposed responses to those objections and recommendations for implementation or otherwise of the proposals, and sources of funding for the full set of proposals.

Cllr Chris Weaver and Norma Mackie declared a personal and prejudicial interest in this item, as  Governors at Gladstone Primary School, Cllr Weaver and Mackie left the room for consideration for consideration of this item.

Cllrs Burke declared a personal interest in this item, as her children attend a school in an affected ward.

Cllr Merry declared a personal interest in this item, as she is ward member for the area.

Cllr Sangani declared a personal interest in this item, as she is award member for and affected area.

The Cabinet received a report bringing forward responses received following consultation on proposals regarding the provision of primary school places to serve Cathays and parts of Gabalfa, Heath, Llandaff North and Plasnewydd.   

It was noted that on 23 March 2023, the Council’s Cabinet agreed hold public consultation on three options to expand Welsh-medium primary school provision and consolidate English-medium primary school provision to improve the balance provision to serve Cathays and parts of Gabalfa, Heath, Llandaff North and Plasnewydd.  In total 213 responses were received including 189 online/hardcopy responses, 17 formal responses, 2 school council responses and a further 5 email responses. Majority affiliated to the schools affected.

It was highlighted that the proposed changes would take effect from September 2025, subject to the Governing Body of St Monica’s Church in Wales Primary School considering the outcome of the consultation and their agreement to proceed.

It was noted that a further report will be provided to the Cabinet providing details of any objections received, the proposed responses to those objections and recommendations for implementation or otherwise of the proposals, and sources of funding for the full set of proposals.

RESOLVED: that

1.            the consideration by the Governing Body of St Monica’s Church in Wales Primary School of the proposal to transfer St Monica’s Church in Wales Primary School to the current Ysgol Mynydd Bychan site and establish nursery provision at the school, from September 2025 be noted.

2.            Subject to the agreement of the Governing Body of St Monica’s Church in Wales Primary School to proceed to publish its proposals, Officers be authorised to proceed to publish proposals in accordance with section 48 of The School Standards and Organisation (Wales) Act 2013 on proposals to:

·         Transfer Ysgol Mynydd Bychan to the current Allensbank Primary School site.

·         Increase the capacity of Ysgol Mynydd Bychan from 192 places (0.9FE) to 420 places (2FE) and increase the number of nursery places at Ysgol Mynydd Bychan from 64 to 96.

·         Amalgamate Allensbank and Gladstone Primary Schools:

The proposed changes would take effect from September 2025.

3.            It be noted that, prior to implementation of the proposals, financial resources must be identified to facilitate the process of organisational change of establishing the new two form entry primary school and the transfer of St Monica’s Church in Wales Primary School.

4.            It be noted that, prior to implementation of the proposals, a further report will be provided to the Cabinet providing details of any objections received, the proposed responses to those objections and recommendations for implementation or otherwise of the proposals, and sources of funding for the full set of proposals.