Issue - meetings

As detailed in the recommendations.

            Councillor Roberts introduced the report which provided details on the proposed change of designation for Lixwm Community Primary (CP) School from a Community to a Voluntary Aided School.

                        Lixwm CP School had been investigating sustainable solutions to maintain their school in its local community with other schools, the Diocesan Authority and the Council.  This was following determination by Cabinet not to amalgamate Lixwm CP School with Brynford CP School.

                        The Chief Officer (Education and Youth) explained that this work had culminated in an agreement between the Governors of Lixwm CP School and the Governors of Ysgol Y Esgob Voluntary Aided (VA) School to seek to form a federation between the two schools.  However, the Federation of Maintained Schools (Wales) Regulations 2014 did not allow schools with a faith or trust base to federate with community schools.  It was therefore necessary for the Council to consult on a proposed change to the designation of Lixwm CP School from a CP to a VA School under the School Standards and Organisation (Wales) Act 2018.

                        The Chief Officer thanked the Diocesan Authority for their active involvement in discussions with the Council and Schools and for their support of the proposed strategy. 

                        The anticipated timeline for the proposed consultation process was appended to the report.

            RESOLVED:

(a)       That Cabinet are satisfied that the Governing Body of Lixwm Community Primary School has explored suitable and sustainable models for provision of education in the Lixwm area; and

(b)       That Cabinet approve for consultation to be undertaken under The School Standards and Organisation (Wales) Act 2018 on a proposal to change the designation of Lixwm Community Primary to a Voluntary Aided school in order to facilitate a future federation.