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This section of the website will contain Press Release issued by
Whitchurch High School governors in relation to School Organisation
Proposals.
If you are a journalist
then please contact the school on 029 2062 9700 if you wish to speak
to the governors.
Governors
accuse Council of attempting to “Dumb down educational
opportunities”
In a letter to all Members of the Schools Sub
Committee
the Chairs of Governors from the three Whitchurch Schools adversely
affected by the latest School Organisation Proposals (Whitchurch
High, Eglwys Newydd Primary and Eglwys Wen Primary Schools) urge
Councillors not to accept the latest proposals to be heard at the
Sub Committee meeting on 8th
June, 2009.
The
re-organisation proposals have been changed several times through
inconsistencies and lack of support but now the choices recommended
by Officers of the authority to be considered at the Sub Committee
meeting involve closing Eglwys Newydd and Eglwys Wen Primary schools
and either opening a smaller primary school on the existing Heol Don
site (option 1) or present Eglwys Newydd site (options 2 and 3);
and reducing Whitchurch High School from a 12 form entry to a 9 form
entry school.
The letter to Councillors accuses the authority of failing to
maintain parental choice and educational opportunities by proposing
the reduction in size of these good and popular schools.
Joyce Crandon, Chair of Governors, Whitchurch High
School
stated “Cardiff LEA states that it wants “local schools for local
pupils” but at what cost? Can they ensure that the 600 pupils
denied a place at Whitchurch High School would receive better (or
even the same) educational opportunities elsewhere in the City?
Instead of bringing all schools up to a high standard, the authority
is considering sending pupils to schools where their educational
opportunities would not be the same. For example at Whitchurch High
School pupils can select from 42 different A level options and
vocational courses as well as the Welsh Baccalaureate. Whitchurch
High School is the only maintained school in Wales to offer the
International Baccalaureate. Whitchurch High School has just had an
excellent inspection report showing outstanding features throughout
the school. The report documents the many well established and
successful educational developments and the further exciting and
innovative ones planned in this optimum sized twelve form entry
school”.
Gareth Richards, Chair of Governors, Eglwys Wen
Primary School
said “All three English medium schools are pleased that the Council
is finally fulfilling its promise to create a new school for Ysgol
Melin Grufydd the local Welsh medium primary. However, the numbers
in the other primary schools show that the proposed 2 form entry
school would not be sufficient, either to cope with current numbers
or to address the future population increase in the area”.
Huw Evans, Chair of Governors of Eglwys Newydd
Primary School
stated “The Council says its vision is to “create a safe, healthy
and learning community which celebrates diversity and promotes
genuine opportunities for all” (Children and Young People’s Plan).
This community already exists in Whitchurch and we would urge
Councillors not to support the current proposals for Eglwys Newydd,
Eglwys Wen and Whitchurch High but to continue to invest in these
good and popular schools which have high levels of attainment and
achievement”. |
