Cwmcarn High School Closure Statement

Dear Parents and Carers, ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

At their meeting on 27th June, 2016, the governing body of Cwmcarn High School regrettably made the very sad and difficult decision to close the school over the next two years. This is despite their best efforts and due to the unprecedented circumstances that the school has found itself in since 2012. This decision has been made in line with Section 80 of The Schools Standards and Organisation (Wales) Act 2013. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Gary Thomas, Chairman of the Governors, speaking on behalf of the Board of Governors said “it is a very sad day but the Governors are very proud of the school’s high quality of teaching and its achievements throughout its long history. The Governors are very grateful to the parents and learners who have supported and continue to support the school. We would particularly like to thank our dedicated, hard working and loyal staff who have been with us throughout this journey. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

However, faced with the halving of the school roll in the last five years, which continues to fall, combined with the number of learners in the South Islwyn region also falling and set to fall further, this makes the school unsustainable. The Governors have made the very sad and difficult decision that it is in the best long term interests of both learners and staff to close the school.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Detailed closure planning will begin in the new school year (September 2016). Governors will inform parents of these arrangements as our closure programme develops. All learners will be able to remain and continue their education on the school site throughout the closure period. Current examination groups can also complete their courses at the school through this period. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Governors respect the right of parents to seek their own alternative arrangements for their children’s education should they wish to. We will be working closely with our neighbouring South Islwyn schools, Coleg Gwent and the Local Authority throughout the two years of this closure programme to ensure a seamless, well managed, process. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Mrs. Perry, Executive Headteacher, will continue to lead the school through this period, providing the school and the closure programme with leadership and stability. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Mr. Gary Thomas, Chairman of Governors, ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

On behalf of Cwmcarn High School Governing Body. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​