Pontypridd schools consultation
The deadline for responses to the reorganisation of schools in the Pontypridd area is approaching. Comments and responses via the online consultation form are to be received by 31 January.
The consultation documents can be found here.
Councillor Mike Powell is a governor at one of the affected schools – Hawthorn High – where the proposal is to remove the sixth form and move Hawthorn and Heol Y Celyn primary schools onto the site creating a 3 to 16 school. He is opposed to the proposals but says that once the Labour Cabinet have made up their minds it is highly unlikely they will back down.
"I was involved with parents, pupils and educationalists trying to stop this happening in the Rhondda, but despite the protests and the solid arguments put forward the changes went ahead.
"As we predicted at the time would happen schools which had their sixth form removed such as Tonypandy suffered significant losses of quality staff who left to pursue careers elsewhere where they could teach A level.
"My colleagues and I warned that they would target the Pontypridd area next, but still Labour were voted back in to control and given the power to do just what they wish.
"We will be putting in a consultation response and I urge everyone to do the same, but although I and, I am sure, others will do their best to fight this I don't hold out much hope of it being stopped. I hope to be proven wrong."
