Please sir, can I be children's champion?

Apr 19 2008 by Moira Sharkey, South Wales Echo

WALES’ new children’s champion made a return visit to his old school to discover students fear for the future of their education.

Keith Towler chose Llanedeyrn High in Cardiff for his first school visit in South Wales as the children’s commissioner.

It was the first time he had been back to the school for 30 years and he spent time speaking to pupils who are campaigning to keep the school in Roundwood open.

The father of two, who was born in London but grew up in Cardiff, has mixed memories of his time at secondary school.

Like most children, he loved primary school and spent happy years at Lansdowne Primary in Canton, before the family moved to Cyncoed.

He admits he found the transition from junior school to secondary quite difficult and even skipped lessons in the first few years.

But by O-levels he realised that his education was important and worked hard for his exams.

During his visit, the current generation of pupils told him of their fears that the school would close under the school reorganisation plan being proposed by Cardiff council.

Chris Collins, head of the learning support centre which helped co-ordinate the tour, said: “The commissioner was brilliant, really understanding.

“And the pupils were keen, having heard the problems he had at school, to share with him their fears about their future education if the school closed.

“This visit was all about promoting what is positive about the school from the peer mentoring group, our transition project, special needs department and learning support centre – all good reasons why this school should not close.”

The commissioner said: “I left Llanedeyrn in 1977 after A-levels and I have not been back since.

“It was great to be invited and, most importantly, to hear from the pupils.

“School visits will be an important part of my job and will help me in the months ahead in getting an understanding of the issues facing children and young people in Wales today.

“I feel like I have been on a carousel for the first seven weeks, with lots of people and groups lobbying me.

“While that is all good my job is about being a children’s champion, so going to Llanedeyrn and other schools is essential.

“In the next few months my job is really to listen and then I can reflect on what I have been told and start to tackle those issues.”

Mr Towler met with the school council, which is made up of pupil representatives who have a say in the running of the school, and heard about Cardiff council’s proposal to see the school become home to St Teilo’s Church in Wales High School.

The majority of pupils from the catchment area who do not want a faith education would have to take two buses and travel three miles to attend Llanishen High.

The commissioner added: “The pupils of Llanedeyrn, like so many across Wales, are a credit to their teachers and the changing culture in schools to give students a voice.

“School councils are helping to create a generation of confident young people who are able to articulate their concerns and find solutions. I want to hear from all children, about all their issues and my goal is to reach vulnerable children, those involved in the youth justice system and asylum seekers.

“So far the most common issues which are being raised are about the standard of education; also I am hearing a lot about bullying and the way adults tackle this as well as the problem of cyber bullying.”

moira.sharkey@mediawales.co.uk