The Corporate Director Education and Family Support presented a report which:

• informed Cabinet of the outcome of the consultation on the proposed enlargement of Coety Primary School;

• presented the findings of the consultation in a detailed consultation report(Appendix A);

• sought a decision regarding the following in respect of Coety Primary School:

• sought approval to either publish the proposals with or without modifications and issue a public notice as prescribed in the School Organisation Code 2018;

• abandon the proposals; or

• significantly recast the proposals and re-consult on the following options:

The Corporate Director Education and Family Support explained that Coety Primary School, which was a two-form-entry school located on Parc Derwen, was constructed during Band A of the School Modernisation Programme and opened in November 2015. Since then, housing developments have been constructed at Parc Derwen which meant there was a requirement for extension to Coety Primary School.

On 15 June 2022, Council approval was received to include the scheme in the capital programme and to utilise Bridgend County Borough Council (BCBC) capital resources to fund the extension. Once the s106 contribution has been received (approximately £300k in total), this funding will displace some of the BCBC funding. Further background was at section 3 of the report.

He explained that prior to commencing consultation, the nursery provision was reviewed and details of this were set out at 4.1 of the report.  The proposed enlargement of the school is part of a wider strategy to increase pupil places to serve the Bridgend northeast area and a phased strategy has been adopted to expanding primary provision as set out in 4.2 of the report. Further details on the consultation that took place was at section 4 of the report. He added that particular consideration also needed to be given to whether the demand in the Bridgend North East was for English or Welsh Medium education which were outlined at 4.6 of the report.

The Corporate Director Education and Family Support stated that a summary of the issues raised by consultees and the local authority’s responses are provided in the consultation report as detailed in Appendix A of this report. Cabinet will need to consider the consultation report and determine the preferred way forward. Should Cabinet wish to proceed with the proposal, the next stage of the process is to publish a statutory notice outlining the proposal which would need to be published for a period of 28 days. Any formal written objections would be invited during this time.

The Cabinet Member Education welcomed the report and thanked everyone who took part in the consultation as well as the Welsh in Education Forum Representatives who worked with BCBC in our commitments to Welsh Medium Education across the borough. We have also considered the Welsh impact assessment carefully to ensure that we offer children excellent provision in both Welsh and English Medium settings.

The Cabinet Member Regeneration asked after reading the Welsh Impact Assessment, could the Corporate Director outline what we are doing to offer equal choice for Welsh and English medium education in Coity and Brackla West region.

The Corporate Director Education and Family Support stated that traditionally pupils from the Coity area want a Welsh medium education and attend Ysgol Bro Ogwr. As part of the Band B School Modernisation Programme, Cabinet approval was given to make a regulated alteration to Ysgol Bro Ogwr in the form of an enlargement. The new school will be 2.5 form entry with 225 pupil places as well as a nursery and observation and assessment class. The school will be constructed by the land of Ffordd Cadfan which is in the Coety Primary catchment area.

The Deputy Leader asked in relation to other aspect of school life are we retrofitting anywhere. The Corporate Director Education and Family Support stated that this was the case and one of the goals was to look at how to make better use of resources at the school including the 4G Pitch and changes to the schools hall to better allow for initiatives that are planned there.

The Leader asked if ESTYN were consulted with this process. The Corporate Director Education and Family Support stated that they were consulted and they raised no issues or concerns with the proposals.

The Leader asked for confirmation of the action that Coety Primary School has taken in the promotion of Welsh language. The Corporate Director Education and Family Support explained that Coety Primary, among over 15 other schools in Bridgend, have been awarded the Cymraeg Campus award which is given to schools that show a particularly positive drive in promoting the Welsh Language. 

RESOLVED:

That Cabinet:

• noted the outcome of the consultation on the proposed enlargement of Coety Primary School;

• gave approval to publish the consultation report (Appendix A);