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Nation braced for school shake-up Nation braced for school shake-up
(40 minutes later)
Parents across Wales are bracing themselves for more school closures following the decision to reorganise schools across Cardiff.Parents across Wales are bracing themselves for more school closures following the decision to reorganise schools across Cardiff.
Up to 25 schools could be closed under the first phase of the city council's school reorganisation.Up to 25 schools could be closed under the first phase of the city council's school reorganisation.
It is expected to be the biggest round of closures in Wales with three high schools initially earmarked to shut.It is expected to be the biggest round of closures in Wales with three high schools initially earmarked to shut.
Authorities including Anglesey, Powys, Gwynedd and Denbighshire are also considering closure plans.Authorities including Anglesey, Powys, Gwynedd and Denbighshire are also considering closure plans.
Cardiff Council has unveiled its reorganisation plans for the city's secondary schools on Tuesday. Cardiff Council unveiled its reorganisation plans for the city's secondary schools on Tuesday, saying change was needed because of shrinking family sizes and a big demand for children to be educated in Welsh.
The first stage will see three high schools - Llanedeyrn, Llanrumney and Rumney - earmarked for closure. It is the second time the Liberal Democrat-led authority has tried to implement widespread closures in the city's school system.
But two new schools would be built, one a Welsh-medium high school and the other a English-language secondary. CARDIFF SCHOOL PROPOSALS Close Llanedeyrn High, move St Teilo's onto its siteWelsh-medium secondary school to open on St Teilo's siteClose Llanrumney and Rumney High Schools, build new school at Eastern Leisure CentreUnite Whitchurch High on the lower school siteEglwys Newydd primary site to become play area for Whitchurch HighFuture of Cantonian High and Radyr Comprehensive for discussion in SeptemberCefn Onn and St Anne's primaries to close
The council said change was needed because of the falling size of modern families and big demand for Welsh-medium education. It has 8,000 spare school places, costing £3m a year, and has faced pressure from the assembly government and the school inspection body Estyn to halt the waste in money.
When a school's roll falls, so does its funding. The council said if no action was taken then within 10 years about half the city's secondary schools will have lost about 30% of their funding.
Two years ago fierce opposition among parents, pupils and political opponents stopped the reorganisation going ahead, but this time the council said it had reached "cross-party consensus".
Under the latest plans three high schools - Llanedeyrn, Llanrumney and Rumney - are earmarked for closure.
The future of two other secondaries - Cantonian and Radyr - will also be considered in the autumn.The future of two other secondaries - Cantonian and Radyr - will also be considered in the autumn.
This is our chance to improve educational provision for all children across Cardiff for generations to come Rodney Berman, Cardiff Council leader Put children first
Two years ago plans were put forward by the Liberal Democrat-led council for widespread closures of both secondary and primary schools, but they were dropped after an outcry among parents, pupils and political opponents. Two schools would be built, one a Welsh-medium high school and the other a English-language secondary.
The council said there was now "cross-party consensus" for these proposals, although they are also likely to be similarly controversial. Councillor Judith Woodman, whose Pentwyn ward includes the threatened Llanedeyrn school, said the changes must be pushed through this time round.
They mostly affect secondaries at this stage, although some primaries are also involved. Coun Woodman said the council had reached consensus with all parties involved which she hoped would hold through next year's election.
One proposal would close Llanedeyrn High School, and move St Teilo's School onto the site. "We have to put the interests of the children in the city first."
Parent protests over school closures have become common
The latest closure plans in Cardiff mostly affect secondaries with plans for primary closures expected next year.
One proposal would close Llanedeyrn High School, and move St Teilo's Church in Wales School onto the site.
Cardiff's third Welsh-medium secondary school would then open on the St Teilo's site.Cardiff's third Welsh-medium secondary school would then open on the St Teilo's site.
There is also a plan to shut both Llanrumney High and Rumney High, and a build a new school for 11-16-year-olds on the site of Eastern Leisure Centre in Llanrumney.There is also a plan to shut both Llanrumney High and Rumney High, and a build a new school for 11-16-year-olds on the site of Eastern Leisure Centre in Llanrumney.
CARDIFF SCHOOL PROPOSALS Close Llanedeyrn High, move St Teilo's onto its siteWelsh-medium secondary school to open on St Teilo's siteClose Llanrumney and Rumney High Schools, build new school at Eastern Leisure CentreUnite Whitchurch High on the lower school siteEglwys Newydd primary site to become play area for Whitchurch HighFuture of Cantonian High and Radyr Comprehensive for discussion in SeptemberCefn Onn and St Anne's primaries to close
The council also proposes uniting Whitchurch High on one site, instead of the current two. It would mean Whitchurch moving onto the site of the lower school.The council also proposes uniting Whitchurch High on one site, instead of the current two. It would mean Whitchurch moving onto the site of the lower school.
Eglwys Newydd Primary School would also be acquired and demolished to use as a play area for Whitchurch High.Eglwys Newydd Primary School would also be acquired and demolished to use as a play area for Whitchurch High.
Partnership arrangements
Pupils from Eglwys Newydd and nearby Eglwys Wen Primary will be merged into a brand new school building on the Whitchurch upper school site.Pupils from Eglwys Newydd and nearby Eglwys Wen Primary will be merged into a brand new school building on the Whitchurch upper school site.
The fate of Cantonian High in Fairwater and Radyr Comprehensive will be reconsidered in September.The fate of Cantonian High in Fairwater and Radyr Comprehensive will be reconsidered in September.
Glyn Derw High and Michaelston Community College will be asked to formalise their partnership arrangements, and two primaries, Cefn Onn and St Anne's would close. Glyn Drew High and Michaelston Community College will be asked to formalise their partnership arrangements, and two primaries, Cefn Onn and St Anne's would close.
The proposals will be up for discussion at a council committee meeting on 13 July, and the future of primary schools will be examined further next year.The proposals will be up for discussion at a council committee meeting on 13 July, and the future of primary schools will be examined further next year.
'Engaged and consulted' Two sixth forms
Council leader Rodney Berman said: "We have difficult problems to tackle but, at the same time, this is our chance to improve educational provision for all children across Cardiff for generations to come."Council leader Rodney Berman said: "We have difficult problems to tackle but, at the same time, this is our chance to improve educational provision for all children across Cardiff for generations to come."
He said communities and other interested groups would be "engaged and consulted every step of the way," and any decisions would take "some years" to implement. The falling numbers of children and what to do with the unfilled school places is also being addressed across Wales - and has resulted in many anti-closure campaigns.
But he said he was "delighted" there was consensus among the political parties on the proposals. In Gwynedd and Anglesey consultations with parents and local communities is under way.
The council said there were about 4,500 surplus places in secondary schools, and 8,500 in all schools. Powys is also reviewing its school provision after 4,000 surplus primary places were identified there.
When a school's roll falls, so does its funding. The council said if no action was taken then within 10 years about half the city's secondary schools will have lost about 30% of their funding. Last month a report recommending shutting two sixth-forms in Rhyl in Denbighshire and creating a new centre was put out to consultation.
BBC Wales education correspondent Colette Hume said similar closures would probably extend across the rest of Wales, with councils coming under pressure from both the assembly government and education inspection body Estyn not to waste money .