NPTCBC submit WLIA mitigation measures to WG - requested January 2024

Comment

1.Pupil numbers will decrease in Welsh-medium schools due to the attraction of new build English-medium school in the area

Negative

-Large investment in improving facilities and capacity in Welsh-medium schools including YGG Pontardawe, YGG Trebannws and YG Ystalyfera Bro Dur (north campus) -Enhanced financial support for YG Ystalyfera Bro Dur (and neighbouring cluster schools -Welsh-medium (WM) ALN provision in YG Ystalyfera Bro Dur -Enhanced promotion campaign for WM schools in the YG Ystalyfera Bro Dur cluster

Large investment has already taken place in all of the named schools. YG Ystalyfera Bro Dur has benefited from new builds, refurbishment of an existing building and a new on site wraparound childcare facility will be completed in April 2025. The YG Ystalyfera Bro Dur cluster has had significant additional financial support from Cymraeg 2050 element of the LAEG funding to support transition work, increase transition numbers and provide language immersion support for secondary pupils. -Strategic plans are already underway for this provision. Consultation for Welsh-medium primary and secondary ALN LScs will take place in 2025 -Significant investment (WLGA grant funding) has already taken place to produce prospectuses, school promotional videos and a

-‘Y Cwm’ Welsh language immersion provision is located in YGG Pontardawe for up to 16 pupils per term to increase parent and pupil confidence in Welsh- medium education at all staged of primary education – Additional Welsh-medium childcare places

series of Welsh language education promotional videos for the cluster

Additional Welsh-medium childcare places have already been created in YGG Pontardawe, YGG Trebannws and a new provision in YG Ystalyfera Bro Dur will be completed in April 2025 in an effort to prevent drift over the border to neighbouring counties.

2.Welsh language in the community would decline because of possibility of greater number of English- medium pupils.

Negative

-Limit the size of the school to accommodate existing pupils

The new school would have to accommodate the number of eligible pupils from the catchment. Currently, pupils from the catchment attend newer schools in Powys. The attraction of a new English-medium school within their NPT catchment could reverse the trend of Godre’r Graig catchment pupils attending schools in Powys. The smallest new build school would be a one form entry for 210 pupils and 45 nursery (a significant

– establish working groups to consider thematic issues relating to the Welsh language in the community e.g. provision and take up of Welsh for adults, language confidence building events, Promoting the use of Welsh by private and voluntary organisations, activities and entertainment for young people and young adults, employment and economic development -Implement targets set out in the WESP, Outcome 5, promoting and facilitating the use of the Welsh language and increase its use in everyday life within schools and the wider community -Ensure that targets within the Welsh Language Promotion Strategy assists with promoting the Welsh language within the community -Ensure close and effective engagement with Menter Iaith, Urdd, Tŷ’r Gwrhyd to provide opportunities

increase on current numbers attending Godre’r Graig). There is a significant lack of existing infrastructure in the village of Godre’r Graig to implement the mitigations outlined. The village of Ystalyfera, Llangiwg and Pontardawe will need to be incorporated into this target without diluting the focus on the village of Godre’r Graig. -Topics and themes each term within the school has a localised element and a wider all Wales aspect. -As above, the village of Ystalyfera, Llangiwg and Pontardawe will need to be incorporated into this target due to the lack of existing infrastructure -The LA has implemented a WLGA grant to provide an Urdd officer to work with pupils in the school (and

and promote the benefits of the Welsh language within the community -Ensure that Cymraeg Campus action plans/strategies will be used within the proposed school to ensure regular opportunities for learners, staff and the wider community to engage in activities that increase confidence in the Welsh language and promote Welsh modern culture and history. This will lead to an increased awareness of the relevance/ importance of Welsh in their everyday lives. This will be monitored and supported by the Local Authority’s Welsh in Education officer and Curriculum Development Officer (Welsh in English medium).

other EM schools in the Swansea Valley) -The school are currently engaging with Cymraeg Campus

3. Less opportunities for promoting and growing the Welsh language as this is an English-medium school

Negative

-Local Authority to increase the current Welsh language provision in line with the proposed language continuum in order to develop a Welsh language community within the school. -As in 2, ensure that Cymraeg Campus action plans/strategies will be used within the proposed school to ensure regular opportunities for learners, staff

-There is a risk that this could negatively impact on the number of pupils attending YG Ystalyfera Bro Dur primary phase, which already has surplus capacity. – The school are currently engaging with Cymraeg Campus and currently, topics and themes each term within the school has a