A year on from the initial Schools Reorganisation Plan, and what major progress has been made?  In my opinion very little. The only real changes which have been made are some fast-track mergers of junior and infants schools into primary schools.

After the schools re-organisation plan was rejected, the Council agreed to form a cross party schools sub-committee. Unfortunately one small   group were the only group on the Council to vote against the Independent Group taking part in the Council’s Schools sub-committee.  This angered a lot of politicians, as it was viewed as a spiteful act.  Still, we are where we are, and my colleague and I are looking forward to scrutinising the detailed proposals when they are forthcoming. We shall support where necessary and oppose where necessary. 

As a Council we only have one chance to get the proposals right and we have a duty to the good people of our City to give them a plan which is suitable to the needs of all our communities.  The last plan did not do this. Our primary objective must be to ensure that every child, irrespective of ability, is given the best possible chance to excel in all aspects of their school life, from sport to academia, from drama to after school activities.

The ruling group must, at all stages, share their proposals with every group on the Council.  Without the political agreement, we may well be facing the highly costly, highly damaging and highly disastrous stage we were at a year ago. 

My ward colleague Adrian Robson and I have a Coffee Morning and Ward Surgery on Saturday 26th May, between 11am - 12.30pm in Bethany Baptist Church Hall on Heol Llanishen Fach in Rhiwbina.  My contact details are : phone 029 2062 7757, fax 029 2087 7005, mobile 079 7001 3332, E-Mail jcowan@cardiff.gov.uk.  Please log on to www.rhiwbinaward.com for more information about my work.