From: Cllr. Pritchard, Allan J Sent: 15 September 2005 11:36 To: List: All Councillors Cc: Hopkins, David; Davies, Malgwyn; Kilcoyne, Ian; Gomer, Peter; Hopkins, Bleddyn; Howells, Bob Subject: Oak Comp, presentation to Cabinet

VERY IMPORTANT I believe that ALL COUNCILLORS should be made aware of the presentation that I made to Cabinet this week regarding the proposed reorganisation of Secondary Education in the county borough. PLEASE TAKE A FEW MINUTES TO READ THE PRESENTATION, SO THAT YOU ARE AWARE OF WHAT IS FACING US AS AN AUTHORITY. Allan Councillor/Cynghorydd. Allan Pritchard Penmaen - Oakdale Ward

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Cllr. Allan Pritchard Presentation to Cabinet on Tuesday 13th September 2005. Reorganisation of Secondary Education in Caerphilly County Borough

Chairman (Cllr. Andrews). May I first of all thank for granting my request to address your Cabinet today on the following grounds: Information and vital issues not fully covered or considered in the reports presented by Consultant, Mr. Mike Haines and by Mr. David Hopkins the Director of Education for this Council.

From experience, we know that consultant reports are guided by what the client wants to achieve and in my opinion the report of the consultant does just that.

Recent GCSE examination results, Results show Oakdale Comprehensive as one of the most improving comprehensive schools in the whole of Caerphilly county borough.

Financial position of the school. There is no mention or consideration of the incredible turn round of the financial position of the school from a projected budget deficit of £400,000 to a break even situation in just two years. No mention of the pain and suffering that went with staff rationalisation or the appointment of a new dynamic head teacher. Neither is there any mention of the teaching staff transferred from Bedwellty to assist the LEA. I can imagine how those staff feel as it reminds me very much of the way that British Coal treated its staff when closing the pits in this area.

Housing development. Scant regard has been paid to the additional houses that have been built or are in the process of being built as we meet today. Oakdale is the fastest growing community in the whole of the county borough. In recent years the number of sites and dwellings developed, or have planning consent is: The Elms 24 The Oaks 19 Priorsgate 55 Village Court 21 Redrow/Waterloo Rd 100 Pen-y-Groes 51 Ynys-y-Coed 48 Riverside Court 8 Llys Cyncoed 34 Cwrt Cwmderwen 8 Redrow/Bryn Howard 76 Under construction Cwrt Bevin 45 Under construction Nant-y-Lwydd/Gossards 41 Under construction Old Library site 4 Under construction Tudor House 4 Planning granted Land south of the Elms 30 Outline planning granted TOTAL NEW BUILD 578

Neither of the reports reflect these figures and are therefore totally misleading. The report forecasts a drop in pupil numbers by 100 at Oakdale Comprehensive over the next few years. The facts do not support his statement, in fact the opposite would be more likely. Or does the Consultant and the Director believe that these developments will not yield any pupils?

Oakdale Business Park and Sirhowy Enterprise Way. One of the most alarming omissions from the reports is that there is no mention or recognition of The largest development area in the whole of the South Wales Valleys. To date, in excess of £20m has been invested in the site to prepare for the potential creation of 5,000 to 8,000 jobs. What message will this report send out to industrialists and businesses considering locating there, when the very core of this expanding community is under threat. £36m investment in the SEW (could be seen as the road to nowhere). Good local schools are a vital part of any consideration and forward plan by any large company wishing to set up in an area

Community College and Youth Centre. The reports also fail to recognise that in addition to the school, the proposal would also take away the Community College and all the facilities associated with it. It would also remove the youth club that operates on the school site. We have just completed a Multi Use Games Area (MUGA) on the school site at a cost of around £85k, it has not yet been officially opened and we are now considering selling the whole of this site to pay for facilities at other schools and in other areas of the county borough.

Anti Social Behavior. As Councillors, the most complaints we receive from residents, is that there is a lack of facilities for youngsters in the Oakdale area. The sale of the school site would remove the few facilities that we presently have. This Council has recently made anti social behavior its number one priority. The affect of closing the school and destroying the present facilities for young people would be devastating to the community and anti social behavior would undoubtedly go through the roof.

I would ask all Cabinet members to take into consideration the issues that I have raised and urge you to remove Oakdale Comprehensive from this consultation process before it has time to fester. In doing so it will put the minds of the pupils, staff, governors and the community at large at rest and allow the success story of Oakdale Comprehensive to thrive.

In conclusion, I would like to respond to the main thrust of the Director of Education's proposals and submissions to Cabinet today, which was mainly focused on falling pupil numbers and raising standards in our schools. From my submission to Cabinet today, I believe that I have made the point that falling pupil numbers in the Oakdale area do not hold water and that the recent examination results of the school is amongst the best in the whole of the county borough. For these reasons, the case for targeting Oakdale does not stand up and should be withdrawn from the consultation programme.

Again, I would ask all Cabinet Members to carefully consider what has been put before them today and immediately remove the threat that is hanging of the school, staff, pupils, governors and the whole community.

Cllr. Allan Pritchard Penmaen Ward

Decision of the Cabinet of Caerphilly county borough council held on Tuesday 13th Sept 05. One member of the Cabinet, Cllr. Keith Griffiths, declared an interest in the matter as he was a Governor of Risca Comprehensive School. The remaining eight Members of Cabinet all voted for the proposals and recommendations contained in the report and to the commencement of a formal consultation process.

Cllr. Harry Andrews, Leader of the Council Cllr. Tudor Davies, Bargoed Cllr. Paul Ford, Aber Valley Cllr. David Hardacre, Darren Valley Cllr. Gerald Jones, New Tredegar Cllr. David Pool, Pengam Cllr. Gwyn Price, Pontllanfraith Cllr. Robin Woodyatt, Maesycwmmer