Two Weeks Remain For Parents To Have A Say On Proposed £44M Schools Investment

Two weeks remain before the end of the Vale of Glamorgan Council’s public consultation on a proposal that could see £44m invested into two new mixed-sex secondary schools for Barry. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The consultation which will decide the future of Barry Comprehensive School and Bryn Hafren Comprehensive School began in early September and will close on 17 October. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

£11.5m has been earmarked for new facilities and investment into the buildings on the current Bryn Hafren School site and £32.5m for a new school building and a Centre of Behavioural Excellence on the Barry Comprehensive School site. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cllr Lis Burnett, Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Education, said: “We know that both parents and pupils are passionate about the future of English-medium schooling in Barry and so are urging everyone who has not already done so to have their say before the consultation closes next month.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

If there is support from parents and pupils then the new schools, which will replace the existing single sex Barry Comprehensive and Bryn Hafren Comprehensive schools, would open in September 2018. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

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Both new schools would have a capacity of 1100 places. As the existing schools share the same catchment area, the creation of two new mixed sex schools would also see new catchment areas established. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The consultation is open to all interested parties, with a focus on parents, pupils, and staff. Responses can be submitted online at www.valeofglamorgan.gov.uk/barryschools, in writing, or by calling the Council’s C1V contact centre. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​