3 Schools Modernisation Programme - Llangefni Area: Ysgol Y Graig and Ysgol Talwrn PDF 2 MB
To submit a report by the Director of Education, Skills and Young People on the County Council’s Schools’ Modernisation Programme in relation to Ysgol Y Graig and Ysgol Talwrn.
Additional documents:
Decision:
It was resolved to approve the proposal to “increase the capacity of Ysgol Y Graig to accommodate pupils from Ysgol Talwrn, close Ysgol Talwrn and review the catchment areas of Ysgol Talwrn and Ysgol Y Graig” and authorise Officers to conduct a statutory consultation on the proposal.
Minutes:
The report of the Director of Education, Skills and Young People incorporating a proposal paper on schools’ modernisation in the Llangefni area with reference to Ysgol Talwrn and Ysgol Y Graig was presented for the Executive’s consideration. The report sought the Executive’s approval to proceed to a statutory consultation on the proposal to “increase the capacity of Ysgol Y Graig to accommodate pupils from Ysgol Talwrn, close Ysgol Talwrn and review the catchment areas of Ysgol Talwrn and Ysgol Y Graig.”
The Portfolio Member for Education, Libraries, Culture and Youth presented the report which set out the proposal for schools modernisation in the Llangefni area with specific regard to Ysgol Talwrn and Ysgol Y Graig. As he had done under item 2, he referred to the background wherein the Council had in May, 2019 through the Chief Executive and the Executive, rescinded the original decisions in respect of schools modernisation in the Llangefni area and had requested Officers to look afresh at the various issues in relation thereto and the requirements under the School Organisation Code 2018, and report back to the Executive in due course. The proposal paper forms part of this process and represents an initial internal assessment for which the Executive’s approval is sought as a basis for statutory consultation. He referred to the Authority’s vision in instigating the schools modernisation programme and the main objective of the programme in seeking to create the best possible educational environment for teachers and pupils to succeed thereby promoting high standards. In doing so he accepted that change can be difficult and that implementing the schools modernisation agenda to date has at times been challenging, resulting on the one hand in the closure of some primary schools, but on the other hand leading to a £22m investment in education on the Island through the creation of three new schools for present and future generations. In outlining the process and timeline to be followed for statutory consultation should the proposal paper be approved, the Portfolio Member urged all interested parties and stakeholders to take part and submit their views in order to ensure the consultation is as meaningful as possible.
The Director of Education, Skills and Young People advised that the general introduction he had made under item 2 regarding the key drivers for change and the criteria for education provision in the context of the wider Llangefni area applied in this case also with analysis of all the reasonable alternatives for education provision in the Llangefni area (section 5 of the proposal paper) concluding that there is no viable whole Llangefni area solution. As a result, and due to their geographical proximity, attention has focused on a possible solution for the Ysgol Y Graig and Ysgol Talwrn catchment areas and separately for the Ysgol Bodffordd and Ysgol Corn Hir catchment areas (as addressed under item 2). The Officer outlined the key challenges facing Ysgol Y Graig and Ysgol Talwrn (section 6) and said that ten reasonable alternatives ... view the full minutes text for item 3