Minutes

2018/8: 21st Century Band B funding proposals, Formal Council Questions and Responses - Monday, 29th October, 2018

Items
No. Item

1.

Question to the Cabinet Member for Education & Skills: 2018/8 21st Century Band B funding proposals

Minutes:

Councillor Fouweather asked:

 

1.     Following the announcement this/last week on the opening of a new Welsh Medium primary in 2020 and the information provided in the Band B proposal document, where does the council intend on opening the new school and how? This in unclear in this proposal.

 

2.     How will the council deal with potential increasing numbers within the Welsh Medium sector until the opening of the new school? Newport already faces challenges with oversubscription in schools across the city - as the report notes. 

 

3.     What impact will expanding primary places have on available secondary places? Report notes that secondary places are currently under pressure?

 

4.     Has a Fairness and Equalities Impact Assessment been carried out on these proposals?

 

Councillor Giles responded:

 

1.     The approved WESP includes a commitment to establish a fourth Welsh-medium primary school within the city. However at the current time, the location of this school is still to be determined.

 

2.     The Council is committed to allocating places in Welsh-medium schools to any parent who indicates this as their preference. The Chief Education Officer is committed to working with the Headteachers and Governing Bodies of the existing Welsh-medium schools to ensure the adequate provision is made for all pupils seeking Welsh-medium education prior to the establishment of the fourth school.

 

3.     School projections are monitored on a regular basis via the Planning of School Places group. Arrangements will be made for the impact of a fourth school to be factored into the projection analysis for the Welsh-medium sector and reported at the appropriate time via the People’s Services Capital Programme Board.

 

4.     The Band B Strategic Outline Programme was agreed by Council before being formally approved by Welsh Government in December 2017. The latest report outlines the prioritisation of individual projects within the overall programme. FEIAs will be prepared in relation to each individual project and proposal at the appropriate time.