Councillor calls for assurances over delivery of new Welsh-medium school

A proposed two-year delay in opening a new Welsh-medium school has prompted calls for assurances that the new school in Borras will now open in September 2021.

Executive board members will today be asked to delay the development of the new school after no first preference reception applications had been submitted for this September.

Just two first preference applications for the nursery class had been submitted.

A new ‘seed’ school was set to be based at the former Hafod Y Wern site in Caia Park ahead of the relocation to Borras Park Infants School in two years time.

The primary school would have capacity for 210 pupils and would accommodate 15 places for nursery and 15 places for reception classes at Hafod Y Wern for the next academic year.

However Cllr Phil Wynn, lead member for education, will this morning ask senior councillors to “delay the implementation” of opening the school until September 2021 – where it will be based permanently at the site in Borras.

This would include an annual intake of 30 places at nursery and 30 at reception to meet the growth in demand.

The proposed changes also mean that the intended works programmed for the Hafod y Wern site will no longer go ahead, with the capital funding expected to be directed elsewhere within the education department.

Cllr Carrie Harper, who chairs the council’s lifelong learning committee said: “It’s disappointing to hear about the two-year delay for opening Borras but I believe a number of factors have contributed to the decision.

“Delays in terms of naming the school to give parents confidence in applying, along with additional Welsh-medium capacity coming on stream at Ysgol Bro Alyn in Gwersyllt at the same time have meant this was a likely course of action.

“The original plan was to use Hafod y Wern from this September and then move to the new site in Borras in two years time, there were always questions as regards how practical this proposal was.

“We’ve seen a dramatic increase in demand for Welsh-medium education in Wrexham over the last 10 years and that is set to continue.

“It’s easy to understand why, given the cultural and economic benefits of being bilingual, the majority of the demand is coming from non-Welsh speaking parents, which is also very encouraging in terms of the future.

“I know lots of local parents will be looking forward to the new primary school, which will also potentially free up space at our other Welsh medium primaries.”

Cllr Harper added: “With our Welsh-medium schools in Wrexham being at or near capacity, the Borras school is needed to cater for growing demand on this side of town.

We also know that where new schools are located, demand increases in the surrounding areas as well so the growth will continue.

“We now need categorical assurances from the council leadership that the new Borras primary will open in 2021 to meet this demand.”

Among those looking forward to the new school is Rhosnesni parent Michael Harper, who is looking forward to sending his one-year-old son Charlie to the new Welsh-medium school in Borras when it opens: “We decided early on that we want Charlie to be a Welsh speaker and have the benefits of a Welsh-medium education, with the location of the new school being in walking distance for us it’s just perfect and we’re really looking forward to it.

“I’m not a Welsh speaker myself unfortunately and neither is Charlie’s mum Becca but we wish we’d had the opportunity. Children can learn so easily but it’s much more difficult for adults.

Now we’re getting an increasing number of Welsh schools in Wrexham, I think it’s great that everyone who wants their child to have this chance will have the assurance that there will be a school place for them.”

Executive board members will be asked to ‘note the number of applications’ for the September 2019 entry and give officers approved to delay the new school until September 2021.

The report will be considered for approval by executive board meetings this morning at 10am. The meeting will also be webcast live on the Wrexham Council website for those who want to view the debate from the comfort of their own home.