TWO options for a new special school in Llanelli are to be investigated, a senior councillor has said.
One option would be a 150-pupil school; the other a 250-pupil school. Both options would result in a larger provision than the current over-subscribed Ysgol Heol Goffa.
A replacement Ysgol Heol Goffa was proposed several years ago at the former Draka copperworks site, Llanelli, but the council decided not to press ahead with it last year citing soaring project costs.
The decision sparked dismay and anger among campaigners, and the council commissioned an independent review of additional learning needs (ALN) provision in the Llanelli area.
The review’s findings were published in February outlining six options for the school and ALN locally. The ones that are to be explored further are two of the six.
Cllr Glynog Davies, Plaid cabinet member for education, said he will propose to cabinet colleagues that they further investigate the two options and that whichever one is chosen the proposed replacement Heol Goffa will be larger than the one that was shelved.
“The original plan that many had pressed for would have resulted in a smaller school, which would have been full on day one,’ said Cllr Davies.
“Following the independent report we commissioned by David Davies, a former ALN head, I’ll be recommending either a 150-capacity Heol Goffa school on one site, with primary and secondary specialist centres for a total of 115 pupils with autistic spectrum condition attached to mainstream schools, or a new ALN school for 250 pupils, to include provision for pupils with autistic spectrum condition.”
He added: “Despite huge financial pressures, we are determined to ensure the very best provision for ALN pupils in the Llanelli area, future-proofed for decades to come. I’m asking for more definite costings and, as always, we will engage with Welsh Government to ensure funding for the scheme.”
Cllr Davies said he’d hoped to make his recommendation to cabinet in May, but the process has been delayed due to electoral law as there is a county council by-election in Llanelli’s Lliedi ward on May 29.
Hannah Coles, chairwoman of campaign group Ysgol Heol Goffa Action Committee and a parent of a pupil at the school, described Cllr Davies’s announcement as “really positive”.
She said: “The local authority has acknowledged we do need a new school. That’s fantastic. The action committee is really pushing for a 250-pupil school.”
She said Ysgol Heol Goffa was over-subscribed, had a big waiting list and that the demand for ALN education – not just in Carmarthenshire – was increasing. “We don’t want to be in this position again in 10 years’ time,” she said.
The independent review carried out by consultant Mr Davies – formerly head of additional learning needs (ALN) and well-being at Vale of Glamorgan Council – said there had been “an exponential rise” in the number of children and young people with autistic spectrum condition over the last decade throughout Wales and beyond. He added that the growth of young people identified with ALN was unprecedented in Wales.
Mr Davies’ report said only one contractor had expressed an interest in building the replacement school planned at the former Draka copperworks site and that the costs quoted to build it were significantly higher than expected.
He said Ysgol Heol Goffa was supported very well by the Llanelli community, who “are clearly very proud” of it, and highly regarded by parents and carers. There have long been concerns about its physical condition though.
His report said: “There is no doubt that the learning environment at Ysgol Heol Goffa is not currently fit for purpose and that this must be addressed.”
