Email from WG to NPTCBC - your proposal in its current format doesn’t seem to align with a number of the Programme’s key delivery requirements and objectives.

From: Harries, Emyr Sent: 17 February 2025 16:55 To: Andrew Thomas Cc: WG Official 2 (SCfL); NPT Official 1; Cymunedau Dysgu Cynaliadwy / Sustainable Communities for Learning; WG Official 6 (SCfL); WG Official 3 (SCfL) Subject: RE: Godre’rgraig Primary School Dear Andrew,

Further to our discussion just now, thank you for your email below and attached WLIA which we have now considered. Whilst I appreciate that the school is a replacement rather than a new school, the WLIA does make some significant conclusions, such as:

• ‘…. it must be concluded that reopening Godre’r Graig Primary School in a new building would negatively affect the viability and development of Welsh in the Swansea Valley.’
• ‘…. the financial and strategic rationale for reopening the school in a new building warrants serious scrutiny.’ In my letter to you (also attached) where we relayed the Education investment Panel’s concerns about the potential impact the proposal could have on the Welsh Language, and where we requested a full WLIA in order to consider the proposal further, we required the WLIA to consider the provision across the Swansea Valley area, with mitigation for any negative impacts identified. We can see that the WLIA has identified the negative impacts, but it is not clear to us what the mitigation would be to address them, in order for us to consider the proposal further. As it currently stands, when considering your proposal for alignment with the SCfL Programme’s published Business Case guidance, the findings of the WLIA are a concern with regard to the impact on the Welsh Language, as well as those relating to surplus school places and affordability. In general, birth rates are in decline across Wales which is leading to the rationalisation of places in many local authorities rather than the creation of more places, particularly in an English medium setting. The WLIA, as well as available data, indicate that there are around 115 learners in the current Godre’rgraig school which, in a one form entry (1FE), would then provide approximately 95 or 45% surplus places. In summary, given the findings of the WLIA and in the absence of mitigation to address the findings, your proposal in its current format doesn’t seem to align with a number of the Programme’s key delivery requirements and objectives. I appreciate this is not the response you are seeking, but we must work collaboratively in addressing the challenges and opportunities in the delivery of both local and national priorities for Wales. Please do get in touch if it would be useful to discuss this in more detail and I believe our teams are meeting later this week. Best wishes,