Issue - meetings

To submit the report of the Director of Education, Skills and Young People.

It was resolved –

·      To approve the proposal to “Relocate Ysgol Uwchradd Caergybi learners to a new school building for 11-18 year old learners”, and

·      To authorise Officers to undertake the necessary statutory consultation.

The report of the Director of Education, Skills and Young People which sought the Executive’s approval for the proposal to relocate Ysgol Uwchradd Caergybi learners to a new school building for 11-18 year old learners and conduct a statutory consultation thereon was presented for consideration.

Councillor Dafydd Roberts, Portfolio Member for Education, Skills and Young People presented the report and he explained that the Council’s Strategic Outline Programme (Sustainable Communities for Learning) which is a rolling nine year plan sets out the schemes identified for capital investment and delivery over the period. However, the widespread presence of RAAC concrete in the Ysgol Uwchradd Caergybi school building means the situation needs to be addressed in the short or near term. Following changes in UK guidance in August 2023 on RAAC, extensive remedial work has been undertaken to safeguard the school structure in the medium term, but a long-term solution is required. The proposal paper presents the outcome of work to explore a range of options for the future of Ysgol Uwchradd Caergybi  and has been drafted in line with the expectations of the revised School Organisation Code (O11/2018).

Councillor Dafydd Roberts noted that if approved for statutory consultation, the proposal to relocate the school’s learners to a new building could mark the beginning of an exciting new chapter for the school.

The Director of Education, Skills and Young People affirmed that the proposal complies with   the revised School Organisation Code and aligns with the Council’s commitment to improving schools and creating  modern learning environments that support communities and the Welsh language. The proposal involves relocating Ysgol Uwchradd Caergybi learners to a new school specifically designed for the 11- 18 age range with capacity for 900 pupils. In developing the proposal the Council considered a number of factors as outlined in the paper with the primary driver being the condition of the current school building - classified as Grade C (operational but in need of major repair or replacement in the short to medium term). The current and projected future maintenance costs for the existing school building amount to nearly £29m. While alternative options for the future of Ysgol Uwchradd Caergybi were considered, as detailed in section 6 of the report, relocating the school’s learners to a new purpose built school for 11-18 year olds is considered the most effective solution  to the challenges facing the school. The cost implications are set out in section 7 of the report.

The Director of Education, Skills and Young People described this as an exciting period, presenting an opportunity to establish a modern school that complements and supports contemporary teaching and learning practices, benefiting both staff and pupils. The proposal addresses the challenges regarding the school building’s condition, particularly  RAAC and could lead to long-term savings in repair and maintenance costs over the next 25 years if implemented through the Welsh Government’s Mutual Investment Model. Additionally, it also supports the objectives of the Strategic Outline Plan. Under the revised School Organisation Code, relocating a school  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7