Statutory Notice
School Standards and Organisation (Wales) Act 2013
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN in accordance with section 42 of the School Standards and Organisation Act 2013 and the School Organisation Code 2018 that Caerphilly County Borough Council, having consulted such persons as required by relevant legislation, proposes to make the prescribed alterations as follows:
- Relocation of Ysgol Y Lawnt and Upper Rhymney Primary School
The schools are maintained by Caerphilly County Borough Council.
The Council undertook a period of consultation before deciding to publish this proposal. A consultation report containing a summary of the issues raised by consultees, the proposer’s responses and Estyn’s full response is available on the Council website at: https://conversation.caerphilly.gov.uk/ysgol-y-lawnt-and-upper-rhymney-primary
It is proposed to implement the proposal with an anticipated effective date being September 2027.
It must be emphasised that both schools would remain independent entities.
Ysgol Y Lawnt:
The number of pupils attending Ysgol Y Lawnt at present is 161 + 22 nursery, the current capacity of the school is 206 pupils and the published admission number is 29.
The capacity for Ysgol Y Lawnt should the proposal be implemented will be 210 in the first year, which will be increased incrementally by 15 places per year until it reaches the full capacity of 315 pupils, plus 45 nursery and 8 special resource base places.
The admission number for Ysgol Y Lawnt in the first school year in which the proposals will be implemented will be 30 for each year group including nursery, which will increase to 45 on full capacity.
Upper Rhymney Primary School:
The number of pupils attending Upper Rhymney Primary School at present is 134 + 15 nursery, the current capacity of the school is 184 pupils and the published admission number is 26.
The capacity for Upper Rhymney Primary should the proposal be implemented will be 184 in the first year, which will be increased incrementally by 5 places per year until it reaches the full capacity of 210 pupils, plus 30 nursery and 8 special resource base places.
The admission number for Upper Rhymney Primary in the first school year in which the proposals will be implemented will be 26 for each year group including nursery which will increase to 30 on full capacity.
The existing catchment areas would remain unchanged, as outlined in the Consultation Document (page 5)
The Council’s policy on school transport, which provides eligible pupils of statutory school age free transport to the ‘relevant’ school (i.e. catchment or nearest school) if more than a distance of 1.5 miles from home to school remains unaffected.
Objection Period
Within a period of 28 days of the date on which the proposal was published, that is to say, between Monday 8th January 2024 and Monday 5th February 2024, any person may object to the proposals in writing or by email to the proposer.
Objections by email should be sent to 21stCenturySchools@caerphilly.gov.uk
Objections in writing should be sent to Caerphilly County Borough Council, for the attention of the Sustainable Communities for Learning Team, Directorate of Education and Corporate Services, Penallta House, Tredomen Park, Ystrad Mynach, CF82 7PG.
The Council will publish a summary of any such objections made (and not withdrawn in writing) within the objection period, together with their observations thereon, at the time of notification to stakeholders of the determination of the proposal.
Richard Edmunds
Corporate Director for Education and Corporate Services
For Caerphilly County Borough Council
Dated: 8th January 2024
EXPLANATORY NOTE (This does not form part of the notice but is intended to explain its general meaning)
Caerphilly County Borough Council proposes to relocate Ysgol Y Lawnt and Upper Rhymney Primary School to a new site, North of Carno Street, Rhymney, NP22 5EE.
The proposal seeks to create a sustainable school building with shared facilities, to accommodate Ysgol Y Lawnt, Upper Rhymney Primary School and Community use. The two schools will continue to provide both Welsh and English Medium Primary education and remain as separate entities, situated within the new dual purpose building.