Whitchurch Schools – Governors oppose reduction

October 22, 2009 No Comments

As previously reported in NOW Cardiff – parents in Whitchurch are being  invited to undertake a consultation to decide the future of education provision in the area. Cardiff council are offering three options, all of which  involve reducing the size of Whitchurch High School, selling off some school land and merging Eglwys Newydd and Eglwyn Wen. Option three also contains the provision of a Welsh-medium primary school and nursery on the Heol Don site.

Meanwhile, the Governors of Whitchurch High School, currently the largest school in Wales, have started campaigning against the proposed reduction. They have issued a statement: “Whitchurch High School is a good school and is moving from strength to strength, therefore the Governors are opposing the reduction of our school.”

Part of the campaign by the school is to apply for Foundation status. Foundation schools are able to determine their own admissions, own their own sites and land, and employ their own staff. The governing body of the school met in July and resolved to make such an application.

The Chair of Governors, Joyce Crandon stated:  ”I am delighted with the governing body’s decision which will maintain the educational opportunities and standards which are available at Whitchurch High School.

“The school has recently had an excellent inspection by Estyn, which highlighted over one hundred outstanding features in the school, and found the school to be continuously improving teaching and learning opportunities.

“As a Foundation School Whitchurch will still offer a comprehensive education on a non selective basis and will continue to go from strength to strength”.

Option 1

• Reduce the size of Whitchurch High School, to 9 forms of entry
• Replace Eglwys Newydd and Eglwys Wen Primary Schools with a new build 2 form entry English-medium primary school with nursery on the Heol Don site
• Extend and refurbish Ysgol Melin Gryffydd, increasing its capacity to 2 form entry with nursery on the current site.
• Dispose of Eglwys Newydd school site, a small part of Whitchurch High (lower school) site and a small area of the Ysgol Melin Gruffydd and Eglwys Wen site.
• The new English-medium school on the Heol Don site will also share a pitch with Whitchurch High School (Upper School) site.

Option 2

• Reduce the size of Whitchurch High School, to 9 forms of entry
• Replace Eglwys Newydd and Eglwyn Wen Primary Schools with a new 2 form entry English-medium primary school with nursery on the Eglwys Newydd site, by extension and partial refurbishment of existing buildings.
• Extend and refurbish Ysgol Melin Gryffydd, increasing its capacity to 2 form entry with nursery on the current site.
• Dispose of a small part of Whitchurch High lower and upper school sites, a small area of the Ysgol Melin Gruffydd and Eglwys Wen site and the Heol Don site.

Option 3

• Reduce the size of Whitchurch High School, to 9 forms of entry
• Replace Eglwys Newydd and Eglwyn Wen Primary Schools with a new 2 form entry English-medium primary school with nursery on the Eglwys Newydd site, by extension and partial refurbishment of existing buildings.
• Ysgol Melin Gruffydd to become a 2 form entry Welsh-medium Primary School with Nursery in a new build school on the Heol Don site.
• Dispose of a small part of Whitchurch High lower site and the Ysgol Melin Gruffydd and Eglwys Wen site.
• The new Welsh-medium school on the Heol Don site will also share a pitch with Whitchurch High School (Upper School) site.

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