Review of Education Provision in Bangor Catchment Area

Increasing the capacity of Ysgol y Garnedd

On Tuesday 6 November, 2018, Gwynedd Council's Cabinet approved the proposal to increase the capacity of Ysgol y Garnedd to 420 Reception to year 6 pupils, and 30 full time Nursery pupils by transferring the school to a new Building to be constructed on the site adjacent to the existing Building, operational from September 1, 2020.

As the result of the impact of the Covid-19 emergency on Construction work, it would be unreasonably difficult to implement the proposal on the original date. The reason for this is:

  • Construction work was halted for 6 weeks during the lock-down period.
  • Once the work resumed, the contractor had to implement measured to conform with the Governments social distancing guidelines meaning that a reduced number of workers were present on site that before the lockdown period.

On the 16 July 2020, all stakeholders and consultees were informed of the delay and that the Authority aims to open the new school when pupils return after the autumn half term 2020, subject to the pandemic situation over the coming months.

 

On Tuesday, 6 November 20108, Gwynedd Council Cabinet met to consider a recommendation to implement the proposal to close Ysgol Glanadda and Ysgol Babanod Coedmawr on 31 August 2020, and offer places to the pupils at Ysgol y Garnedd (subject to parental choice); and increase the capacity of Ysgol y Garnedd to 420 effective 1 September 2020.

This follows an objection period held between 4 September and 2 October 2018 on the proposal.

The full report has been published on the Cabinet 6 November 2018 (item 6).

Following detailed consideration of the proposal, the Council’s Cabinet, decided:

“Implement the proposal issued on 4 September 2018 to close Ysgol Glanadda and Ysgol Babanod Coedmawr on 31 August 2020, and offer places to the pupils at Ysgol y Garnedd (subject to parental choice); and increase the capacity of Ysgol y Garnedd to 420 effective 1 September 2020.

In accordance with Gwynedd Council’s constitution, the Cabinet’s decision came into effect on 21 November 2018 and a decision letter was circulated to all stakeholders.
Further Information:

Following a period of statutory consultation relating to Ysgol y Garnedd, Babanod Coedmawr and Glanadda, a report was presented to the Council’s Cabinet on 3 July 2018

 

The Cabinet decided to:

  1. Approve the proposal to close Ysgol Glanadda, Babanod Coedmawr on the 31 August 2020,  and offer pupils a place at Ysgol y Garnedd (subject to parental choice); and increase the capacity of Ysgol y Garnedd to 420.
  2. To approve publishing statutory notices on the proposal in (i) above in accordance with the requirements of Section 48 of the School Standards and Organisation (Wales) Act 2013.

As a result of these decisions, a Statutory Notice was issued on 4 September 2018.

Any person may object to the proposals within a period of 28 days after the date of which the notice is published, that is by 2 October 2018.

Objections should be sent in writing to the Head of Education:

Gwynedd Council, 
Council Offices, 
Caernarfon, 
Gwynedd, 
LL55 1SH

or by sending an e-mail for the attention of the Head of Education to:
moderneiddioaddysg@gwynedd.llyw.cymru 

A statutory consultation was held between 10 April – 22 May 2018 on the future of the Bangor catchment area schools; in particular Ysgol y Garnedd, Ysgol Babanod Coedmawr and Ysgol Glanadda.

The consultation closed on 22 May 2018, and the comments received were presented in a report to the Council’s Cabinet on 3 July 2018.

See below a copy of the report along with the relevant appendices;

At its meeting on 13 March 2018, Gwynedd Council’s Cabinet resolved to undertake a process of statutory consultation on the future of schools in the Bangor catchment area; namely Ysgol y Garnedd, Ysgol Babanod Coedmawr and Ysgol Glanadda.

The statutory consultation period was held from 10 April 2018 until 22 May 2018.

The statutory consultation document, background pack and all relevant documents are available below:


If you require hard copies of any document please contact us by calling (01286) 679247 or e-mailing moderneiddioaddysg@gwynedd.llyw.cymru

 

Before the summer, a Catchment Area Review Panel was established to discuss education provision in the Bangor catchment area.  Two meetings were held before the summer and two other meetings have been scheduled for 11 September and 2 October 2017.

The authority must review the provision of education in the catchment area mainly due to the development of the new Goetre Uchaf housing estate in the area and the need for more spaces in some of the catchment area schools.

The objectives below will also underpin the review in the Bangor catchment area:

  • Ensure that there are enough places for each child in the right places
  • Ensure that no school is overcrowded
  • Ensure that there is no school in category C or worse condition
  • Reducing significant surplus places in schools or increasing efficiency
  • Reduce the cost range per head for education provision in the area
  • Ensure class sizes are appropriate in primary schools
  • Reconciliation of education quality in the area
  • Ensure that no head spends more than 20% of their time teaching
  • Develop the use of schools as a community resource
  • Improve the provision of additional learning needs in the area

The Catchment Area Review Panel will consider the opportunities and options available in the catchment area and Gwynedd Council's Cabinet will permit a statutory consultation process following the Panel's meetings and after all the options for the area have been considered.
The Panel has met twice before the summer and has begun to discuss all possible options available for Bangor. Panel meetings will continue in September to prioritize the options and agree on the favoured option.

Membership of the Panel

  • Head of every school in the catchment area
  • Chair of the governing body of each school
  • Parent governor from all schools
  • Representation from the Church in Wales
  • Representation from the Catholic Church

 

Consultation with Children and Young People


The authority will engage and consult with the children and young people from Bangor schools once the Panel has considered all the options available for the area.


More information: