The Digital Classroom of Tomorrow Project Centre for Research into Online Communities and E-Learning Systems The

Institute of Life Sciences, Swansea University, Singleton Park, Swansea, West Wales & The Valleys, SA2 8PP, Wales, GB. Telephone: 01792 345105 Web: www.dcot.org.uk 10 November 2012

Christopher Bradshaw Rhondda Cynon Taf CBC Ty Trevithick Abercynon CF45 4UQ

Dear Mr Bradshaw, Re: Proposal to Close Glantaf Infants School I am in receipt of your letter, dated 7 November 2012, regarding the proposal to close Glantaf Infants School. I write to you as both a school governor at Parc Lewis County Primary and as the Chairman of The DCOT Project Classroom 2.0 in Wales. My overriding view is that it should not be for the local authority to make decisions about which schools to close or maintain it should be driven by the market, which is what is in the best interests of the children and parental choice. On this basis, if there are enough parents who want to send their children to Glantaf Infants and that school is best able to provide for the individual development of their children, then it should remain open, regardless of any efficiency gains that the local authority may wish to make to its overall education budget, which should not come into the decision for its maintenance of schools. As a governor at Parc Lewis, I am please the local authority has confidence in the Head teacher and governors to take in an expanded number of pupils. However, I think this would be best achieved by abolishing catchment areas and allowing parents from outside the area to send their children to our school. We are one of the best in the county for supporting children with special educational needs, and our headteacher supports my view that providing further technology enhanced learning as part of our current budget plans will best provide the individual education not only to SEN pupils but all pupils of all abilities. I therefore oppose in principle the local authoritys proposal to close Glantaf Infants School, which appears to be solely based on financial issues. If there are enough parents willing to subscribe their children to that school it should stay open. Equally, if there are not enough parents in the locality willing to send their children to that school, then parents outside the area should also be given the chance to subscribe their children to this school. Catchment areas are completely improper in this day and age, as the right for a pupil to attend a school should be what is in the interests of their individual development and parental choice, and the local authority should not interfere with the market where it is not needed, as in this case. With best regards,

Jonathan Bishop FBCS CITP

Mr J Bishop

Fy Nghyf: My Ref:

Eich Cyf: Your Ref:

Gofynnwch Am: Please Ask For: School Planning Rhif Est:/Ext No: 744227 Dyddiad: th Date: 13 November 2012

Dear Mr Bishop, Proposed Closure of Glantaf Infants School I acknowledge receipt of your e-mail dated 10th November 2012 concerning the above. The issues of the local authority (LA) being responsible for determining school closures and the planning of school provision, and that of determining school catchment areas are both statutory functions bestowed on all LAs in Wales by the Welsh Government. Any alteration to these policies would therefore require a change in legislation. I would also advise you that admissions legislation allows for parents to express a preference for whatever school they choose, irrespective of whether they live in the catchment area or not. If a school has not reached its published admissions limit in any particular year group, then it must accept all applications made for places, irrespective of where the children live. Catchment areas are only used to determine admissions to a school when it is oversubscribed, or to determine eligibility for free transport. I can confirm that both Parclewis Primary and Glantaf Infants are not oversubscribed at the present time, and may therefore admit children from outside of their catchment areas, until they reach their respective admissions limits.. I would also advise you that we are not accepting objections to this proposal at the present time; these will only be accepted if the proposal goes to Statutory Notice, which will not be until early next year (details of the whole process are contained within the aforementioned consultation document). If this occurs, you will need to submit your objection, if relevant, at the appropriate time. Yours sincerely,

Chris Bradshaw Director of Education and Lifelong Learning