Summer break to bring major changes to some borough schools

As the summer term draws to a close, the arrival of the six-week holiday signals contrasting futures for some schools across Caerphilly County Borough.

Pupils and teachers will say goodbye to Rhydri Primary School, which has served the village of Rudry since 1902.

The local authority confirmed in April the school would close down, bringing to an end a long campaign to make it viable.

The council’s argument focused on falling pupil numbers – blamed on declining birth rates – and their impact on the school’s ability to produce a balanced budget.

Some parents launched a recruitment campaign to try and drive up pupil numbers, but this failed to persuade the council that Rhydri Primary had a sustainable future.

Other efforts included slashing the number of classes and federating the school with Bedwas Juniors, but the council said this work was “not viable or sustainable moving forward”.

Critics of the proposed closure argued the council should have done more to make the school survive, but this view was challenged by the local authority.

At the April meeting to decide Rhydri Primary’s fate, cabinet members described the move as “difficult” and acknowledged the community’s “hard work” to try and save the school.

Its pupils are expected to move to St James Primary School, Mornington Meadows, in September, although parents are free to send their children elsewhere.

Elsewhere, some students currently at two single-sex schools will begin co-ed lessons in the new academic year.

The council agreed last December to eventually shut down Lewis Girls School, in Ystrad Mynach, and transfer all pupils to the currently boys-only Lewis School Pengam by September 2027.

This autumn, the proposal is for all pupils in Years 7 and 8 at both schools to be taught on the Lewis Girls School site, and for all pupils in Years 9 and 10 to have their lessons at Lewis School Pengam.

Year 11 pupils preparing to take their GCSEs will remain at their current school to minimise disruption.

There will be further changes in September 2026 before Lewis Girls School shuts a year later, closing the book on single-sex secondary school state education – not just in Caerphilly County Borough, but also in Wales.

Meanwhile, demolition work will begin this summer at Plasyfelin Primary School, in Caerphilly town, where a modern replacement will be built in phases.

Some students will learn in temporary classrooms when they return to lessons in September, as the council hopes to minimise disruption to learning.

The replacement school will be larger and carbon-neutral – but a new report shows costs are already expected to rise by nearly £3 million more than initial estimates, meaning the council will have to contribute an extra £1.76 million to the project, which is jointly-funded with the Welsh Government.

In Trecenydd, Hendre Infants School will “amalgamate” with Hendre Junior School in September to create a new primary.

A council meeting heard the “amicable” merger had been supported by both schools, and could lead to a “sharing of expertise” for staff and a “continuity of learning” for pupils.

The infant and junior key stages will continue to operate at their current homes, opposite each other on St Cenydd Road, but will now be run as one school.