In a year when more students took ‘A’ and ‘AS’ Level examinations in Cardiff than in 2010, the performances of the city’s schools were improved for all key measures and once again were above the Wales averages.

This is the second year in which candidates have studied ‘A’ Level specifications designed to stretch and challenge the ablest students, with an A* grade to mark exceptional achievement; 8.6 per cent of students in Cardiff gained this prestigious grade compared to just 6.2 per cent in Wales. The overall pass rate (grades A*-E) was 97.6 per cent, and higher than the all Wales figure. Almost three tenths of the grades awarded were grade A* or A, significantly higher than the overall percentage for Wales. Nearly four out of five grades awarded to Cardiff’s students were grades A, B or C, also higher than the figures for Wales.

In the ‘AS’ examinations a higher proportion of students than in 2010 achieved a pass grade and grades A-C. Over one in five of the grades awarded were grade A. These figures are, once again this year, well ahead of the all Wales outcomes.

Cardiff Council Executive Member for Education and Lifelong Learning, Councillor Freda Salway, said: “On behalf of the Council, I congratulate Cardiff’s students after another very successful year. They can be truly proud of the high standards they have achieved. The success of these students has been realised through sustained hard work, the support of parents and the dedication and skills of teachers.”

Chris Jones, Chief Education Officer, said: “I am delighted to once again congratulate Cardiff’s sixth form students and on their success which is the outcome of much dedication and hard work over the course of their studies. I am sure that families and teachers across the city will be as pleased as I am with their considerable achievements. I wish them all the very best for their future careers.”

A recent Estyn report noted that standards of achievement have improved and that elected members and education officers show strong leadership and consistent support for schools. However, the report also highlighted that further improvements were needed, particularly in the secondary phase.

To oversee these improvements, the Council has established an implementation board that will be chaired by the Council’s Chief Executive, Jon House, and include other senior officers as well as representatives from the Welsh Local Government Association, the Welsh Government Department for Education and Skills and headteachers.

Part of the action plan will focus specifically on this partnership initiative to drive-up standards in KS4 and the model could be used as a blueprint for school improvement not only across South East Wales but the rest of the country as well.

Initially, additional support will be provided to secondary schools where there is more challenge and improvement needed to ensure all pupils throughout the city are given the best chances to succeed.  Tailored plans for individual schools will help them further develop strategies to raise aspirations, increase literacy and numeracy and improve attendance and behaviour.

Extra funding will be jointly provided by Cardiff Council and the Welsh Government in the first year to resource the programme which will begin this autumn. Future years of the programme will be funded via the Council and the South East Wales Consortium.

Executive Member for Education and Lifelong Learning Cllr Freda Salway said: “Education is a key priority for Cardiff which is why we are determined to ensure that where there is room for improvement that improvement shall be made.

“The establishment of this partnership shows the seriousness with which the Council takes raising standards as this not only increases the educational attainments of our pupils but their life chances as well.”

Leader of Cardiff Council, Cllr Rodney Berman, said: “I am pleased that we have established this groundbreaking partnership which I believe will act as a trailblazer for the rest of the Wales in driving up standards in our schools.

“It is imperative that we do all that we can to ensure that our pupils have the best possible chances to succeed as it is not only in our interest but in the wider interest of Wales that everyone in the education system achieves their full potential.

“By investing in this improvement programme now we will be reaping dividends for the future.”

Cardiff Conference of Secondary Head teachers (CCSH) said that “CCSH members value the additional resources which will be provided by this tripartite initiative to support headteachers and their schools in the continued desire and drive to further raise standards and better the life chances of each individual child.”

Education Minister Leighton Andrews said: “I have been open and honest when discussing the challenges which face education in Wales and have outlined the positive actions I want to see implemented to raise standards and performance across the board.

“Following Estyn’s Inspection of Cardiff it is encouraging that the Local Authority recognises the need for change and they are taking affirmative action to benefit our young people which we fully support.”

Cllr Peter Fox (Monmouthshire), WLGA Education Spokesperson said: “This is an excellent initiative and proves that Cardiff council is serious about raising standards and outcomes for children and young people. Local government in Wales has said that education is its number one priority and in this instance Cardiff is proving that it means to deliver on that promise.”

Radyr Comprehensive School’s Domino Project has been nationally recognised in the Speaker’s School Council Awards for their work aimed at changing people’s perceptions and raising awareness of Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) issues in schools and beyond.

With a motto of ‘I Am What I Am’, the project seeks to break down barriers and support young people whatever their sexuality. The school council members have been involved in presenting their ideas to youth conferences and via short videos on You Tube, including an interview with Leader of Cardiff Council, Rodney Berman, who adds his support to the campaign.

Over 800 school councils registered to enter the awards scheme with an inspiring and worthwhile array of activities. The judging panel, which included the Speaker of the House of Commons, Rt Hon John Bercow MP; Sir Keith Ajegbo, citizenship specialist and author of Diversity and Citizenship Curriculum Review; Jo Swinson MP (East Dunbartonshire), Tom O’Leary, Head of Education and Public Engagement at Houses of Parliament and Dr Emma- Jane (Edge) Watchorn, Parliament’s Education Service Manager as well as a selection of school pupils, were incredibly impressed by the project and all that the school council has achieved.

Six members of the Radyr school council have now been invited to represent the school at an awards day at the Houses of Parliament on Thursday, June 30 when the Cardiff students will have a chance to meet other successful school councils and share their ideas.

There will also be the opportunity to quiz a panel of special guests about the issues and themes of the winning projects and a tour of the Houses of Parliament.

Leader of Cardiff Council, Rodney Berman, said: “I’m delighted that Radyr Comprehensive’s school council has been recognised in such a prestigious award scheme. I was more than happy to lend my support to their campaign and hope that the project continues to grow and succeed.”

Executive Member for Education and Lifelong Learning, Cllr Freda Salway, said: “There is a great deal of excellent work going on in Cardiff schools to promote equality and tackle bullying.

I’m really pleased to see young people prepared to stand up and make a stand for their peers. The Domino Project is a very worthwhile campaign and this award is well-deserved.”

Nia Morgan, School Council link teacher at Radyr Comprehensive, said: “I am extremely proud of the students and what they have achieved within our school and the wider community. I hope that the Domino Project will go from strength to strength and that other schools will be inspired by the work and participate.”

The final decision was passed to the Minister for Children, Education and Lifelong Learning, Leighton Andrews AM, who has formally agreed to the proposal following objections received to the statutory notice.

The proposals approved by the Minister are to:

• Close Eglwys Wen Primary School and Eglwys Newydd Primary School and establish a new 2.5 form of entry English-medium primary school in the premises currently shared between Eglwys Wen Primary School and Ysgol Melin Gruffydd.
• Transfer Ysgol Melin Gruffydd to the site currently occupied by Eglwys Newydd Primary School and increase its capacity to 420 pupil places.

English Medium Primary School

The new 2.5 form of entry English-medium school will be established from September 2012 and will admit up to 75 children to Reception.  Admissions to the school will be administered in accordance with the Council’s Admissions Policy and the school will serve the combined catchment areas of Eglyws Wen and Eglwys Newydd. 

Welsh-Medium Primary School

Ysgol Melin Gruffydd will transfer to the site currently occupied by Eglwys Newydd from September 2012 and will admit up to 60 children to Reception.  Admission to the school will be administered in accordance with the Council’s Admissions Policy and the school will continue to serve its existing catchment area.

Jenny Randerson

Commenting on the publication of the Assembly Government’s Higher Education Strategy: For Our Future, Welsh Lib Dem Shadow Education Minister, Jenny Randerson AM said: “Higher Education does need to change and I welcome the intentions behind this strategy, but without real detail on improving research and development and exploiting this to build a better economy, we will never build a world class Higher Education system.

“I am also deeply concerned that the parting gift from Jane Hutt that will be remembered, will not be this announcement but will be the devastating financial cuts in the draft budget and the ever widening gap between funding for Welsh Universities compared to England.

“Next year, Labour and Plaid Cymru are slashing 5% from across the University budget when they should be freezing central administration budgets and investigating the misspending of money in the NHS.”

Liberal Councillor Salway - steering the proposals for Cardiff City and County Council

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.