Cash needed for better schools (From Penarth Times)

Cash needed for better schools

AROUND £57 million is needed to rebuild three educational sites in the Vale of Glamorgan, say consultants.

A report by E C Harris was presented at a Vale council cabinet meeting for the appraisal of secondary schools.

St Cyres, Llantwit Major and Cowbridge schools were studied in the review.

The consultants identified where the sites needed investment to improve the environment of 4,000 pupils.

The two sites for St Cyres School were considered to better serve the pupils by merging in to one centre in Penarth, therefore the Dinas Powys building would no longer be used.

The capacity of the area would be 1,350 pupils aged 11 to 16-years-old with room for 400 sixth formers.

This option allows for the possible generation of capital receipt from the disposal of the Dinas Powys land.

Finance for the project may be sought from the Private Finance Initiative (PFI) which means seeking money from the business sector.

But it is clear that the cash required for the rebuilding is beyond the scope of the Vale of Glamorgan's capital programme.

Minimal work on St Cyres school would come to more than £3 million.

Other options include the retention of the two site system with extensions and adaptations which would cost almost £8 million.

But the preferred option is a single site in Penarth which would come to more than £13 million.

The report states: "As well as hindering school improvement and the delivery of the curriculum, the current state of these three schools has significant health and safety implications."

And the schools are also in danger of not complying with the needs of disabled pupils.

The Welsh Assembly have a target of making the sites fit for their purpose by 2010.

Intermediate repairs totalling £8 million for the three schools is only short term as E. C Harris stated: "Such investment would only serve to address issues such as health and safety in the immediate term."