An unlawful “super-school”

The High Court recently found a decision of Neath Port Talbot Council to be unlawful, following a judicial review claim brought by Rhieni Dros Addysg Gymraeg (RhDAG).

RhDAG is an organisation which supports parents and guardians as their children progress through Welsh-medium education. RhDAG works to ensure that more Welsh-medium schools are opened in Wales, as the need arises.

RhDAG, challenged the Council’s decision to establish an English-medium “super-school” to replace three smaller, English-medium primary schools in the Pontardawe area– Alltwen, Llangwig and Godre’r Graig.

The High Court confirmed that the proposed “new” “super-school” could not proceed because the Council had failed to assess properly the impact it would have on Welsh-medium schools in the area.

Regardless of the fact that no Welsh-medium schools were involved in the plans, it was decided that a large new English-medium “super-school” could affect pupil numbers attending local Welsh-medium schools and as such, the Court found the Council’s decision to be unlawful, because this had not been taken into account prior to the final decision being made.

As a result of the High Court’s judgment, it is clear that where a Local Authority’s school organisation proposal does not directly concern Welsh-medium schools, it should not assume that a Welsh language impact assessment is not required.

Blake Morgan has significant expertise in advising on school organisation proposals, Welsh language requirements and representing those involved in judicial review proceedings. If you have any questions regarding this decision or require further assistance, please get in touch and we shall be pleased to help.

Ysgol 'anghyfreithlon'?

Penderfyniad i agor ysgol newydd yn anghyfreithlon, yn dilyn achos gan ‘Rhieni Dros Addysg Gymraeg’ (RhDAG) am adolygiad barnwrol.

Fe nododd yr Uchel Lys yn ddiweddar bod Cyngor Castell-nedd Port Talbot wedi ymddwyn mewn modd anghyfreithlon yn dilyn achos am adolygiad barnwrol gan RhDAG.

Mae RhDAG yn sefydliad sy’n cefnogi rhieni a gwarchodwyr wrth i’w plant ddatblygu drwy addysg Gymraeg. Maent yn gweithio i sicrhau bod mwy o ysgolion Cymraeg yn cael eu hagor ar hyd Cymru, pan fo’r gofyn yn galw.

Yn ddiweddar, fe heriodd RhDAG benderfyniad y cyngor i agor ysgol gyfrwng Saesneg, a fysa’n disodli tair ysgol gyfrwng Saesneg arall yn ardal Pontardawe, sef Alltwen, Llangwig a Godre’r Graig.

Fe wnaeth yr Uchel Lys gadarnhau na all yr ysgol ‘newydd’ barhau, oherwydd bod y cyngor wedi methu ag asesu’r effaith posibl y gall agor yr ysgol ei gael ar ysgolion gyfrwng Cymraeg yn yr ardal.

Fe gadarnhaodd y barnwr bod y cyngor wedi camddehongli Cod Trefniadaeth Ysgolion Llywodraeth Cymru, wrth beidio â chysidro y gall ysgolion gyfrwng Cymraeg gael eu heffeithio gan yr ysgol newydd.

Er gwaethaf y ffaith nad oedd ysgolion gyfrwng Cymraeg yn rhan o’r cynlluniau, fe nododd yr Uchel Lys y gall yr ysgol newydd gael effaith ar y niferoedd sy’n mynychu ysgolion gyfrwng Cymraeg lleol ac o’r herwydd, fe nododd yr Uchel Lys bod penderfyniad y cyngor yn anghyfreithlon, gan na chafodd hyn ei gymryd i ystyriaeth cyn i’r penderfyniad tefynol cael ei wneud.

O ganlyniad i benderfyniad yr Uchel Lys, pan fo awdurdod lleol yn cysidro strwythur a threfniadaeth ysgol (sydd ddim o reidrwydd yn cynnwys ysgolion gyfrwng Cymraeg), ni ddylai’r awdurdod lleol dybio nad oes angen asesiad effaith ar yr iaith Gymraeg.

Mae gan Blake Morgan arbenigedd helaeth o gynghori ar gynigion strwythuro a threfniadaeth ysgolion, gofyniad yr iaith Gymraeg, yn ogystal â chynrychioli mewn adolygiadau barnwrol. Os oes gennych unrhyw gwestiynau o ganlyniad yr achos hwn, neu os oes angen unrhyw gyngor pellach, cysylltwch â ni.