Bridgend Council’s Cabinet is set to proceed to the next stage of plans for a “seedling” Welsh-medium school on the current site of Porthcawl Primary School following a consultation (pdf).
The seedling school – which will also see a new all-weather sports pitch provided – will act as a Welsh-medium childcare facility and provide 60 nursery and reception class places. Pupils will then transfer to Ysgol Y Ferch o’r Sger in North Cornelly at Year 1. The longer-term plan is to build a full Welsh-medium primary school as part of Porthcawl’s regeneration programme.
A narrow majority of people who responded to the online version of the consultation were against the proposal (35 to 33).
The most extensive response to the consultation came from Parents for Welsh Medium Education (RhAG), who were broadly supportive of the proposal but raised several concerns.
They were particularly concerned about whether all pupils will transfer to Ysgol Y Ferch o’r Sger from the seedling school at the end of reception if there aren’t enough places to accommodate them. Bridgend Council responded by saying there’s no application process for Year 1 places, so all pupils will automatically transfer. School capacity will be checked annually.
BCBC also rejected a call from RhAG to only expand Welsh-medium schools in the county from now on. They argued that they couldn’t do so under existing laws.
