School organisation proposals for the communities of Tonyrefail and Trallwn will be considered by Cabinet at their meeting next week – following a period of formal consultation that took place during the autumn.
At their meeting on Monday, December 16, Cabinet Members will consider all feedback received during the public consultation, from September 30 to November 15 – as well as all other information presented in an officer report.
The proposals were brought forward to improve education outcomes, and to ensure local schools are sustainable and best placed to deliver a high-quality education. They will also ensure the best use of public funding, under the backdrop of continued financial challenges faced across the public sector.
The Tonyrefail proposal is to close Tref-Y-Rhyg Primary School, with pupils transferring to Tonyrefail Community School by September 2025. This would require the catchment area of Tonyrefail Community School to be extended. The school has 82 current pupils, below its capacity of 157. Pupil numbers are projected to further decline to 54 by 2028/29 (65.6% surplus places).
Tonyrefail Community School already provides the catchment area for the secondary school education of pupils attending Tref-Y-Rhyg Primary School.
The Trallwn proposal is to close Trallwng Infants’ School and transfer pupils to the nearby Coedpenmaen Primary School, by September 2025. Trallwng Infants’ has a 105-pupil capacity (Reception to Year 2). Pupil numbers have significantly decreased to just 50 in 2023/24, down from 75 in 2019/20. Only 30 of the current pupils live in the school’s catchment area. Projections for 2028/29 suggest a further drop to just 48 pupils (54.3% surplus places).
In addition, the Council would invest in improving the existing Coedpenmaen Primary School facilities, including its school buildings and its external play areas. Coedpenmaen Primary already provides the catchment area for the Year 3-6 education of pupils attending Trallwng Infants’, following Year 2.
Cabinet will consider the proposals and public consultation feedback on December 16, and will decide on whether to proceed with the changes.
Posted on 13/12/2024