Gwynedd Council’s Cabinet has started the statutory consultation process on the future of schools in the Bangor catchment area; namely Ysgol y Garnedd, Ysgol Babanod Coedmawr and Ysgol Glanadda.
The re-organisation that is taking place in Bangor forms part of Gwynedd councils long term vision for the catchment area. The authority must review the provision of education in the catchment area mainly due to the development of the new Goetre Uchaf housing estate in the area and the need for more spaces in some of the catchment area schools.
The councils preferred option is to extend the capacity of Ysgol Y Faenol from 186 to 315, a new school for Garnedd increasing the capacity from 210 to 420. Closing Ysgol Babanod Coed mawr and Glanadda from August 2020, increasing the capacity of Ysgol Glancegin to receive additional foundation phase pupils and improvements to parts of Ysgol Hirael. Consideration will be given to secondary provision which will include the condition of existing buildings and a new build for Ysgol Ein Harglwyddes.
Drop In Sessions
The statutory consultation period runs from 10 April 2018 until 1:00pm on 22 May 2018, and Gwynedd Council will be holding drop in sessions on Monday, the 30th of April (16:00 – 20:00) and Tuesday, the 1st of May (14:00 – 18:00), at Reichel Hall, Ffriddoedd Road, Bangor, LL57 2TR.
Review Panel
A Catchment Area Review Panel has been established to discuss education provision in the Bangor catchment area.
The objectives below will also underpin the review in the Bangor catchment area:
- Ensure that there are enough places for each child in the right places
- Ensure that no school is overcrowded
- Ensure that there is no school in category C or worse condition
- Reducing significant surplus places in schools or increasing efficiency
- Reduce the cost range per head for education provision in the area
- Ensure class sizes are appropriate in primary schools
- Reconciliation of education quality in the area
- Ensure that no head spends more than 20% of their time teaching
- Develop the use of schools as a community resource
- Improve the provision of additional learning needs in the area
The Catchment Area Review Panel will consider the opportunities and options available in the catchments area and Gwynedd Council’s Cabinet will permit a statutory consultation process following the Panel’s meetings and after all the options for the area have been considered.
The Panel has met several times and has begun to discuss all possible options available for Bangor. Panel meetings will continue in September to prioritize the options and agree on the favoured option.
Membership of the Panel
- Head of every school in the catchment area
- Chair of the governing body of each school
- Parent governor from all schools
- Representation from the Church in Wales
- Representation from the Catholic Church
Consultation with Children and Young People
The authority will engage and consult with the children and young people from Bangor schools once the Panel has considered all the options available for the area.
The full consultation document is available here:
