Proposal To Increase The Number Of Welsh Medium Secondary School Places

Ysgol Bro Morgannwg could be set to receive a £19.3m investment as part of proposals to expand the school, in order to help it meet the growing demand for Welsh medium education in the Vale of Glamorgan. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Vale of Glamorgan’s Cabinet will next week consider whether to begin public consultation on a proposal that would eventually see the school’s capacity increase by 299 places. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Currently, 1361 places are available at the school, of which 210 places are in the primary phase and 1151 in the secondary phase. It is anticipated that the increase in demand, will require the school to accommodate 1450 pupils of secondary age. The school would continue to provide 210 primary places. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The proposal to expand the current site of Ysgol Gymraeg Bro Morgannwg, would allow the increasing demand for places to be met. As the proposal recommends that the school’s capacity is increased by more than 200 places, a statutory consultation process would be required. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Included in the expansion proposals, are a new 3G pitch for the school and improvements to the reception, parking area and external spaces. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

It is proposed that the consultation process would begin on Sunday 26 June and run for a period of 6 weeks. During this time, meetings with parents, pupil representatives, the governing body and staff of the school would take place, to provide additional information. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Rob Evans, Chair of Governors, said, “After listening to the responses from our last consultation on the transformation of secondary schools in Barry, we decided that we needed to look at the options in more detail. The formation of the West Barry Secondary Schools Advisory Board has helped us to engage with the public and stakeholders, to identify new options to meet the needs of secondary education in the area.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Education, Cllr Lis Burnett, said: “We recognise the importance of listening carefully to our residents on key issues, such as education. With changing demands on our education system, it is only right that we consider the opinions of everyone that has an interest, to enable us to provide the best education for our children in the Vale of Glamorgan. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​