Future for secondary schools is unclear

Apr 10 2008 by Staff Reporter, South Wales Echo

DEBATE has raged over the future of schools not named on the reorganisation plan.

Radyr Comprehensive, Cantonian High and Whitchurch High, as well as Catholic schools, face an uncertain future having already been proposed as part of discussions of the schools sub committee.

This cross-party group was set up to find a way forward after the first failed school reorganisation in 2005. It includes members of the main political parties, union officials, headteachers and church representatives.

As revealed in the Echo last year, among the options being considered was the sale of the £25m Radyr Comprehensive site – which, when valued more than four years ago, was the second most expensive council-owned site after City Hall.

Cantonian High has also been considered for closure and pupils from both schools could be merged in a new school.

However these proposals never got further than the discussion stage.

Fairwater Councillor Michael Michael, left, said: “Nothing has happened for months on this issue.

“It has all been badly handled and I think now the discussions need to be held in public.

“There is no case for the closure of Cantonian.”

Controversial plans to reduce the size of Whitchurch High – Wales’ largest school – have also been put on hold.

The proposal had been to locate the school on its lower site, off Manor Way.

The upper school site in Penlline Road would then become home to a new primary school created out of a merger of primaries Eglwys Newydd and Eglwys Wen.

This would allow Ysgol Melin Gruffydd, which is in need of expansion to meet demand, to take over the Eglwys Wen site on Erw Las. The site currently used by Eglwys Newydd would become part of Whitchurch High.

Councillor Bill Kelloway, left, executive member for education, said: “We have been consulting on the proposals put forward.

“Further discussion is needed on the other options available.

“No date has been set for the next meeting of the schools sub committee but, once this happens, an agenda can be set so we can move on to the next phase in the reorganisation.”

Further talks are also due to be held on the future of the Catholic schools sites in the city.