Oct 25, 2023, Wales Herald: New special school plans clarified after concerns raised https://www.herald.wales/south-wales/rhondda-cynon-taf/new-special-school-plans-clarified-after-concerns-raised/
PLANS for a new special school in Rhondda Cynon Taf do not involve the closure of any of the county’s current special schools, councillors have said.
The proposal is to open a new 3 to 19 special school in Rhondda Cynon Taf (RCT) to take the number of special schools from four to five and to introduce catchment areas for all 3 to 19 special schools across RCT and members of the council’s cabinet also said that current pupils will not have to to move schools.
The preferred site for the new special school is the current council headquarters in Clydach Vale, which the council will be moving out of….
In June, the council’s cabinet agreed to consult on the proposal with the reason behind it being the pressures faced by RCT’s special schools as the number of pupils placed in these specialist provisions are increasing on an annual basis and children’s needs are becoming more complex.
The June cabinet report highlighted the limitations of each special school site and all opportunities to significantly extend and increase capacities have been looked at and, where possible, done….
He said: “It will of course build capacity for the future in an area that is experiencing increased demand and of course we do have statutory duties in this area….
He added: “There are no proposals to close any special school, this is simply building an extra special school in Rhondda Cynon Taf to increase capacity.”…
