I am extremely alarmed after reading the document proposing “Transformation” of secondary education in Barry.

After absorbing all 38 pages of information I have a number of concerns about a proposition that will effect generations of Barry’s children. Below I have highlighted my concerns.

• The newly appointed governing body and head teacher will decide on how pupils and staff are arranged. Am I correct in thinking that we are being asked to decide on a proposal of which the details of where and how our children will be schooled have not yet been decided?

• The proposal is intended to accelerate the current improvements being made to the standards in Barry Comprehensive and Bryn Hafren. How exactly will that help? Disassembling the entire structure of the two large schools that have different ways of working, as for the last 40 years they have been single sex and cater for boys or girls. Surely combining the two at such a critical point will only endanger the hard work already being done.

• I would like to see how “attendance levels will be high” and “exam results will exceed those of similar schools” when the only significant change will be the location of the school and the change to co-education. This is not enough to make children come to school or do better in their exam results!

• The proposal says it will give the opportunity for a broad and relevant curriculum, but from what I have heard and seen both schools already offer this, so what is the benefit of the change?

• Ysgol Gymraeg Gwaun y Nat will have new accommodation, however Cllr Chris Elmore opened their brand new building in September 2014 to much fanfare. What a waste of money!

• It is anticipated that the new school will become the preferred secondary school for many parents. Really? Sending your children to the biggest secondary school in Wales, why would you chose to send your children to a school where there are more pupils in their year group than there were in their primary school? A number of vulnerable children or children with additional needs will become lost in the system.

• As for the £35 million it is anticipated to cost, what cheapskates! Look at recent transformations in Wales, Aberdare - £50 million for 1600 pupils, Brecon - £50 million, Penarth Learning Community £48 million and this is 35 million for two schools, 1800 and 2400 plus pupils.

• Finally, this is all based on the assumption of funding being received from the Welsh Government. 17 million, to add to the existing 17 million the VoG council already miraculously has. If not received they will attempt to form some poor attempt at a “transformation”. This will leave the largest school in Wales half finished.

Why not support the schools that are trying to improve, fund the improvements that need to be made anyway in all schools and build a new Welsh medium school where it is needed in the Vale. Thus leaving Bro Morgannwg to be the size school it is intended and the parents favoured when sending their children there.

Although Estyn state that “large” schools do better than medium or small secondary schools (note Barry Comprehensive and Bryn Hafren still class as “large” without merging) they state that deprivation can affect school performance and schools in advantaged areas, e.g. Stanwell will perform better than schools in disadvantaged areas. Surely the money would be better spent improving existing facilities and tackling deprivation in the town?

Come on VoG, this is your one chance to really transform education and put Barry on the map. Give us schools to be proud of!

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