Schools shake-up passes hurdle

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Council leaders say plans for a major reorganisation of secondary schools in Cardiff have taken a "big leap forward" after backing by a cross-party meeting.

The proposals will see three high schools - Llanedeyrn, Llanrumney and Rumney - close while two Welsh and English-medium schools will be built.

But a plan to move Whitchurch High to a single site must have further consultation, councillors decided.

Proposals will now be recommended to the council executive in the autumn.

Council leader Rodney Berman, who chairs the schools sub committee, said he was delighted cross-party consensus had been achieved.

Big leap forward

"In a number of cases we still have to do some further work to gain full consensus on a way forward but I'm very pleased that there is a desire among all party groups on the council to work towards achieving that at the earliest opportunity, " said Mr Berman.

"What matters most is that we are providing the very best quality of education in the very best facilities.

"We have now taken a big leap forward towards achieving that aim for generations to come."

The council is proposing a staged school reorganisation after closures mooted two years ago were dropped following fierce opposition.

There are currently 20 secondary schools in Cardiff, but there are 4,500 surplus places.

This leisure centre will be revamped as part of new school plans

The schools sub committee was told in a report by corporate director Neelam Bhardwaja that nine of the 20 schools could have "significant budget difficulties" by next year unless the issue was tackled.

She said that 58 school staff were being made redundant next month "as a direct result of schools not being able to balance a budget".

On Friday evening councillors voted to:

<ul><li>Back plans to consult on closing Llanederyn High and move St Teilo's to the site and create a third Welsh medium secondary school at St Teilo's former site.</li>

<li>Approve plans to consult on closing Llanrumney and Rumney High and to create a new community school on the Eastern Leisure Centre site.</li>

<li>Put proposals to move Whitchurch High out to further consultation with ward councillors and political groups in the autumn.</li>

<li>Allow further discussion on the relocation of Eglwys Newydd and Eglwys Wen Primary in to one building on the Whitchurch upper school site.</li>

<li>The future of Cantonian High in Fairwater and Radyr Comprehensive will be considered in the autumn.</li>

<li> Back plans to consult on the closure of St Anne's Primary and Cefn Onn Primary.</li>

</ul>

The future of the city's primary schools, which face the same problem as families continue to have less children, will be examined further next year.

The council says it is taking action in response to demands from the Welsh Assembly Government and the education inspection body Estyn for progress in removing surplus places.

It says the assembly government has made clear that failure to do so may result in future provision of capital funding for school improvements being withheld.