Back
Welsh Government approval of proposals associated with a new education campus in Fairwater
11/9/2020
Cardiff Council's Cabinet will note that the Welsh Minister for Education has approved proposals relating to the redevelopment of Cantonian High School, Riverbank Special School and Woodlands High School when it meets on Thursday 17, September 2020.
As the proposals affect sixth form provision, they required the approval of Welsh Ministers under section 50 of the School Standards and Organisation (Wales) Act 2013.
Kirsty Williams, Minister for Education has now considered the Council's proposals and agreed that all three schemes form part of a single 21st Century Schools funding bid and are the subject of a joint consultation.
In June 2019Cardiff Council's Cabinet noted consultation responses on the redevelopment of Cantonian High School, Riverbank Special School and Woodlands High School and agreed to proceed to the statutory notice stage for the following proposals:
- Replace the Cantonian High School buildings with new build accommodation on the same site expanding the school from six forms of entry (6FE) to eight forms of entry (8FE) with sixth form provision for up to 250 pupils;
- Expand the Specialist Resource Base (SRB) for learners with an Autism Spectrum Condition (ASC), hosted at Cantonian High School from 20 to 30 places in purpose built accommodation in the new school buildings;
- Relocate Woodlands High School to the Doyle Avenue site from its current site adjacent to Trelai Park and increase the capacity from 140 places to 240 places in new build accommodation;
- Relocate Riverbank Special School to the Doyle Avenue site from its current site adjacent to Trelai Park, and increase the capacity from 70 to 112 places in new build accommodation.
The Council had proposed to enlarge Riverbank to 140 places but capping capacity at 112 places would reduce the footprint of buildings, increasing the outdoor space for learners, and would reduce the impact of traffic to the site. Additional specialist places would be brought forward at another school to meet the projected increase for special primary ages places in coming years.
Deputy Leader of Cardiff Council, and Cabinet Member for Education, Employment and Skills, Cllr Sarah Merry, said: "As part of the Band B 21st Century Schools Programme, the need for additional secondary school places and Additional Learning Needs (ALN) places for children with complex learning needs has been identified.
"This update from Welsh Government marks the latest in the proposals for the Doyle Avenue site which presents an exciting opportunity to create a first of its kind education campus in Cardiff, providing new homes forCantonian High School, Woodlands Special School and Riverbank Special School.
"The current buildings for all three schools have reached the end of their operational lives and need to be replaced. This would allow us to deliver new - build 21stCentury facilities providing pupils with excellent modern amenities."
The Minister has also approved the proposals on the basis that the scheme is likely to maintain at least equivalent outcomes and offer provisions to that which is currently available to learners at all three schools.
The report also recommends delegation of authority for officers to take the appropriate actions to implement the proposals.
