Councillors have agreed for work to begin on a new Welsh medium school in Caerphilly town – despite uncertainty over its funding.
On Tuesday, members of Caerphilly County Borough Council’s cabinet agreed to spend £3.5million to begin the first phase of creating a new Welsh language school on the site of the former St Ilan school.
The decision will now go to a full council meeting on Tuesday to be formally agreed.
A report to councillors warned however that funding from the Welsh Government – through its 21st Century Schools programme – was far from certain, despite Cardiff Bay provisionally accepting revised proposals last year.
Under the revised scheme the Welsh Government would fund at least 50% of the cost – instead of the original 70%. According to the report presented to councillors, this would only be the case for spending made after April 1 2014 and not before.
This means the council could end up having to find £1.75m to fund the work.
The decision was made to spend the money on the first phase of St Ilan because of growing demand for Welsh language places in Caerphilly County Borough. If St Ilan is not open before September 2013, then at least 25 pupils wanting would be turned away from Ysgol Gyfun Cwm Rhymni. This would likely increase to 150 pupils by 2015.
Cllr Phil Bevan, cabinet member for education said: “This is an important step to securing our long term plans for education in the county borough but in particular will ensure the necessary provision of Welsh Medium Education for Year Seven pupils in 2013.”
Caerphilly County Borough Council wants to turn the old St Ilan school, which closed in 2007 and is situated on Pontygwindy Road, into a Welsh-medium school for pupils aged between 11 and 16.
Instead of going to Ysgol Gyfun Cwm Rhymni, Year 7 pupils living in the Caerphilly basin would go to the new school. The original plan was to have the new school open by September 2012 but was delayed by cuts to the 21st Century Schools programme in July 2011.
In November last year a 1,200 name petition was handed into the Assembly demanding action.
In December last year, Welsh Education Minister Leighton Andrews refused to comment when asked about the crisis of places by Caerphilly Observer.
A spokesman for the Welsh Govermment said: “Caerphilly Council is well aware that capital grant support in respect of the 21st century schools programme can only be secured through the submission of a robust business case.
“The Welsh Government’s capital programme has been cut by 40% by the UK Government. We are seeking, in cooperation with Welsh local authorities, to maximise the opportunities for investment in schools despite this. Local authorities have the power to borrow money – the Welsh Government does not.
“Whilst local authorities should start planning their projects now, these projects will need to be developed, with assistance from officials, and scrutinised to ensure that these projects deliver in line with the objectives of the Local Authority’s strategic programme and the Welsh Government’s policy agenda. The option of delivery chosen by the local authority should be the option that achieves the best value for money and educational outcomes.
“Any works that are commenced now and or prior to receiving the appropriate approvals and funding contract by a local authority will therefore be made at a local authority’s own risk.”
Caerphilly County Borough Council CABINET – 10TH JANUARY 2012
This article is a good example of Plaid Cymru telling half a story. And even that half has a very heavy spin!
The Plaid led Council knew that the 21st Century School Programme would have to be re-structured (not cut) by the Labour Welsh Government because of the (actual) cut by over 40% of our capital spending programme by the Tory led UK Government. But they constantly fail to mention this fact. It's as if they want to persuade people that Labour has unilaterally reduced the funding. Could there be a Council election coming??
But as the atricle points out, the Welsh Government cannot raise additional mony – but the Council can. As we know CCBC decided to freeze Council Tax. So a case of "chickens coming home to roost" perhaps.
Let me make it equally clear that I support Welsh medium education and I want to see adequate provision (as I do for English medium as well). But I'm representing a number of constituents concerned about the "split-site" nature of this proposed development.
But in terms of the bigger picture, the support from the Welsh Government is there – as it is for other local authorities in Wales. It's now up to CCBC to put forward their detailed business case.
Surely as our AM Jeff Cuthbert should be putting his support behind this proposal, sinc ethere is an obvious demand for the school, or does he not support Welsh Language education in Wales, or does he support the principles of Franco who banned both Catalan and Basque in
Spain. it might also help if he quashed the rumours being spread, that three English Medium scahools are closing to finance the Welsh one, whereas in fact the closure is due to falling rolls.
I would first like to point out that the article was written and prepared by the Caerffili Observer and is not a Plaid statement.
Plaid run Caerffili Council want to start building at former St Ilan school now to secure Welsh medium education for those already in junior schools. The build project is in advance of the dates set by the Welsh Government and the Council has set aside 3.5million for the build. We only require authority by WG to spend, in advance, this money and receive the match funding when its due in 2014.
How many jobs can we ensure remain in our building industry as well as additional jobs created with building commencing as soon as possible, let alone the additional teaching, support staff etc that all goes to make a school?
The council's strategy has some risks but the figures presented indicate that this school is urgently required. I therefore support their action. It is a great pity that the last Labour council decided to close St. Ilan in the first place. If it had been retained then the costs of converting it to a welsh medium school probably would have been lower.