Response to Consultation on the Closure of Glantaf Infants School

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The Digital Classroom of Tomorrow ProjectCentre for Research into Online Communities and E-Learning Systems

The Institute of Life Sciences, Swansea University, Singleton Park,

Swansea, West Wales & The Valleys, SA2 8PP, Wales, GB.Telephone:01792 345105Web:www.dcot.org.uk

10 November 2012

Christopher Bradshaw

Rhondda Cynon Taf CBC

Ty Trevithick

Abercynon

CF45 4UQ

Dear Mr Bradshaw,

Re: Proposal to Close Glantaf Infants School

I am in receipt of your letter, dated 7 November 2012, regarding the proposal to close Glantaf

Infants School. I write to you as both a school governor at Parc Lewis County Primary and as

the Chairman ofThe DCOT ProjectClassroom 2.0 in Wales.

My overriding view is that it should not be for the local authority to make decisions about

which schools to close or maintain it should be driven by the market, which is what is in the

best interests of the children and parental choice. On this basis, if there are enough parents

who want to send their children to Glantaf Infants and that school is best able to provide for

the individual development of their children, then it should remain open, regardless of any

efficiency gains that the local authority may wish to make to its overall education budget,

which should not come into the decision for its maintenance of schools.

As a governor at Parc Lewis, I am please the local authority has confidence in the Head

teacher and governors to take in an expanded number of pupils. However, I think this would

be best achieved by abolishing catchment areas and allowing parents from outside the area to

send their children to our school. We are one of the best in the county for supporting children

with special educational needs, and our headteacher supports my view that providing further

technology enhanced learning as part of our current budget plans will best provide the

individual education not only to SEN pupils but all pupils of all abilities.

I therefore oppose in principle the local authoritys proposal to close Glantaf Infants School,

which appears to be solely based on financial issues. If there are enough parents willing to

subscribe their children to that school it should stay open. Equally, if there are not enoughparents in the locality willing to send their children to that school, then parents outside the

area should also be given the chance to subscribe their children to this school. Catchment

areas are completely improper in this day and age, as the right for a pupil to attend a school

should be what is in the interests of their individual development and parental choice, and the

local authority should not interfere with the market where it is not needed, as in this case.

With best regards,

Jonathan Bishop FBCS CITP


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Mr J Bishop

Dear Mr Bishop,

Proposed Closure of Glantaf Infants School

I acknowledge receipt of your e-mail dated 10th November 2012 concerning the above.

The issues of the local authority (LA) being responsible for determining school closures andthe planning of school provision, and that of determining school catchment areas are both statutoryfunctions bestowed on all LAs in Wales by the Welsh Government. Any alteration to these policieswould therefore require a change in legislation.

I would also advise you that admissions legislation allows for parents to express a preferencefor whatever school they choose, irrespective of whether they live in the catchment area or not. If aschool has not reached its published admissions limit in any particular year group, then it mustaccept all applications made for places, irrespective of where the children live. Catchment areas areonly used to determine admissions to a school when it is oversubscribed, or to determine eligibilityfor free transport. I can confirm that both Parclewis Primary and Glantaf Infants are notoversubscribed at the present time, and may therefore admit children from outside of theircatchment areas, until they reach their respective admissions limits..

I would also advise you that we are not accepting objections to this proposal at the presenttime; these will only be accepted if the proposal goes to Statutory Notice, which will not be until

early next year (details of the whole process are contained within the aforementioned consultationdocument). If this occurs, you will need to submit your objection, if relevant, at the appropriate time.

Yours sincerely,

Chris BradshawDirector of Education and Lifelong Learning

Gofynnwch Am:Please Ask For: School PlanningRhif Est:/Ext No: 744227

Fy Nghyf:My Ref:

Eich Cyf:Your Ref:

Dyddiad:Date: 13

thNovember 2012

Response to Consultation on the Closure of Glantaf Infants School

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