Plans To Relocate Mynydd Cynffig Primary School To Same Site As Cynffig Comprehensive School

Kenfig Hill residents are to be asked for their views on a proposal to relocate Mynydd Cynffig Primary School to the same site as Cynffig Comprehensive School. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Last year, the former Mynydd Cynffig infant and junior schools amalgamated to form a new all-through primary school which has since been operating on split sites. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

This latest proposal, which has been given the backing of cabinet members from Bridgend County Borough Council, would see the primary school physically come together on one site from September 2018 and also be enlarged to become a two-form entry school with 60 nursery places. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Funding for the new provision would be met from the Welsh Government’s 21st Century Schools Programme and the council’s capital programme. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Councillor Huw David, Bridgend County Borough Council’s Deputy Leader said: “This is an issue that has been looked at for some time now, and we are very pleased to propose this exciting solution. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Cynffig Comprehensive School has been approved by cabinet members as the preferred location for an enlarged Mynydd Cynffig Primary School, and we now look forward to conducting the consultation which will commence in the autumn term. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Although there would be major highways works required to improve access, the infrastructure at the Cynffig site is already set up to manage with far greater pupil numbers. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The comprehensive school currently has 416 surplus places, so there is sufficient space at the site. In comparison, the current junior site presents a number of obstacles for development of a suitable scheme. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Any development there would depend on the relocation of the allotment gardens and playground, and there are more complex and difficult highways issues which make it a less favourable proposition than to relocate the school to the Cynffig site. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Relocating the primary school on to the comprehensive school site would also provide excellent stability and continuity for children as they progress into secondary education.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Pupils, parents, staff and governors will all be consulted in the autumn term, while the wider community will also be able to have their say by completing an online survey on the council’s website. Further details about when the consultation is open will be publicised soon. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​