Anger at council's handling of Cwmcarn asbestos affair (From South Wales Argus)

It is amazing that there is still such secrecy from Caerphilly CBC, as we stated on the weekend they did not inform parents that Ensafe were carrying out the current management survey, but instead chose to speculate that they had not published it due to concern over accuracy (this is a firm which provides asbestos surveys to national businesses such as Carlsberg and stagecoach).

All we hope is that the impartial un-named independent expert is just that, and not someone who has already made comments about the situation - in a court of law, you can not be impartial if you have already expressed opinion publicly on a matter. It would not surprise us if someone such as Robin Howie who went on the BBC in November (http://www.bbc.co.u
k/news/uk-wales-2013
1119) and expressed what would be a damning opinion already was appointed. Or someone like Michale Lees. who in 2008 released apaper called, 'Release of asebstos fibres in system built schools'. Someone who is an advocate of 'All asbestos removal' can not be impartial and therefore should not have the say.

Some people might argue that the highest authority in the land should be appointed to pass judgement - this would be the HSE. Need we say anymore?

This school should have remained open, asbestos is commonly found in older buildings and poses no threat to health if left undisturbed. The scaremongering surrounding asbestos removal gives rise to lucrative business on council contracts and plays into the hands of the risk averse health and safety culture.

Katie Redmond

As parents we have also been referred to the vague statement on the website in response to our requests for information. It is this lack of information or straight answers along with the unnecessary secrecy that leaves scope for distrust in the council and belief in an ulterior motive.
The delay in bringing our school back home means that applications to year 7 could well be affected, with parents concerned as to what arrangements will be in place next academic year.
By affecting our numbers you affect the security of the future of the school.
Cwmcarn high is in a league of its own as a school and we have a long standing history of fighting to keep it.
We'll fight this and any further plots to detrement our school as a community as many times as we have to.

The moment that asbestos was suspected at the school, the HSE should have taken over, and would have controlled the matter from then on. What has happened since, has been unprofessional,incom
petent and expensive it would seem.
However, it could be that there are ulterior motives afoot as to the future of the school. Stranger things have happened and you all know the grapevine.
For instance, if the school was forced to close completely and permanently, what would be the future of the site? Building knocked down? Probably. Then what? Rebuilt on? Another school?.
The land being sold?
The land sold but not another school built?
Private housing?
It's practically certain that with the £200 million needed for WHQS the Council could not afford the extra cost at this time.
Back to the school as it seems to be at present. It may be that, after all, the situation may not be as dismal as it has appeared of late, and that the most of the buildings can be brought back into use quite quickly.
The real problem with a situation like this is the not knowing the facts of the matter. Transparency is not a strong point of Councils on the whole. This is the real reason why some people say this and some that about anything up for discussion.
At least the HSE should be in control and have its way now. Let's keep our fingers crossed.

I really wish CCBC would stop just for one minute and consider what this is doing to the well being and education of our children. The pupils don't know where they'll be next month, next term, next year. Some are in the middle of GCSE or A level courses which could affect the direction the rest of their life takes. They have no idea if they'll have a school to finish their education in. There's also the threat of having to transfer to another school / college if Cwmcarn ceases to exist. That could mean they'll end up in a school that doesn't offer the same subjects they have chosen to study, or a different examining body etc etc. The potential outcomes are worrying.
Wake up CCBC and put yourself in the position of a child in Cwmcarn School. Not a nice place to be, is it ?

So sorry that the parents and children of Cwmcarn school still have no idea of the future, but please could you refrain from making unfounded and hurtful comments directed at Risca Comp (20.2) This school has been a friend to Cwmcarn since this issue has occurred, allowing the pupils to use sport facilities and offering to house examinations during the snow crisis. Risca is not a failing school, quite the opposite in fact in has risen two bands into band 3 out performing Cwmcarn who slipped to Band 4 (latest figures).
It may not be as good at blowing its own trumpet about this such as investing in glossy banners for every man and his dog to see but I feel better knowing that my daughter's headteacher is spending the money directly on the children and not advertisements! I know some parents have lost faith with the Cwmcarn situation and having decided to send their children to alternatives schools (Risca) included can now concentrate on the most important job in supporting your child's education regardless of the name/over inflated reputation of the school.

So sorry that the parents and children of Cwmcarn school still have no idea of the future, but please could you refrain from making unfounded and hurtful comments directed at Risca Comp (20.2) This school has been a friend to Cwmcarn since this issue has occurred, allowing the pupils to use sport facilities and offering to house examinations during the snow crisis. Risca is not a failing school, quite the opposite in fact in has risen two bands into band 3 out performing Cwmcarn who slipped to Band 4 (latest figures).
It may not be as good at blowing its own trumpet about this such as investing in glossy banners for every man and his dog to see but I feel better knowing that my daughter's headteacher is spending the money directly on the children and not advertisements! I know some parents have lost faith with the Cwmcarn situation and having decided to send their children to alternatives schools (Risca) included can now concentrate on the most important job in supporting your child's education regardless of the name/over inflated reputation of the school.

proud3...having risen 2 bands could you enlighten whether 'Lockdown' is one or 2 words????????

proud3 wrote:
So sorry that the parents and children of Cwmcarn school still have no idea of the future, but please could you refrain from making unfounded and hurtful comments directed at Risca Comp (20.2) This school has been a friend to Cwmcarn since this issue has occurred, allowing the pupils to use sport facilities and offering to house examinations during the snow crisis. Risca is not a failing school, quite the opposite in fact in has risen two bands into band 3 out performing Cwmcarn who slipped to Band 4 (latest figures).
It may not be as good at blowing its own trumpet about this such as investing in glossy banners for every man and his dog to see but I feel better knowing that my daughter's headteacher is spending the money directly on the children and not advertisements! I know some parents have lost faith with the Cwmcarn situation and having decided to send their children to alternatives schools (Risca) included can now concentrate on the most important job in supporting your child's education regardless of the name/over inflated reputation of the school.

Well said

We are not in any way deriding other local schools in order to support our own school. All schools need to be wary of being on the receiving end of the treatment Cwmcarn high school is getting from ccbc. Parents chose to send their children to Cwmcarn, and are understandably resentful of any moves being made to force their children to attend an alternative school that has a large number of surplus places and a lower level 2 threshold.
Lastly, it is worth remembering that the banding system is no measure of a school's true value.

SaveCwmcarn says...
8:10pm Thu 21 Feb 13

"...All schools need to be wary of being on the receiving end of the treatment Cwmcarn high school is getting from ccbc..."

Well said. Falling numbers mean that two CCBC schools are facing closure, and for well rehearsed reasons CCBC will jump at the possibility of closing CHS.

This entire fiasco is a 'heads up' to the other schools in CCBC as to how it might go about ridding itself of any of them.

It looks like everyone is being played but what can only be described as an extremely corrupt county.

A council which pays £100,000 to private investigators is more than capable of anything! I have followed this story from the start and save Cwmcarn have appeared to be on the money all throughout! Is there any surprise that Caerphilly might have sort to spread a rumour? To increase animosity between what sound like two excellent schools in their own rights.

There has been no transparency from Caerphilly - their incompetence know no bounds - lets not forget they made the national news for publishing inaccurate facts concerning asbestos? They questioned the accuracy of ensafe yet employed them to carry out the next survey? They awarded themselves pay rise of up to £30,000, whilst others remain unemployed?

Let's not argue between schools but let's all rise and expose this corrupt government agency for what it is!

ccc49 wrote:

proud3 wrote:
So sorry that the parents and children of Cwmcarn school still have no idea of the future, but please could you refrain from making unfounded and hurtful comments directed at Risca Comp (20.2) This school has been a friend to Cwmcarn since this issue has occurred, allowing the pupils to use sport facilities and offering to house examinations during the snow crisis. Risca is not a failing school, quite the opposite in fact in has risen two bands into band 3 out performing Cwmcarn who slipped to Band 4 (latest figures).
It may not be as good at blowing its own trumpet about this such as investing in glossy banners for every man and his dog to see but I feel better knowing that my daughter's headteacher is spending the money directly on the children and not advertisements! I know some parents have lost faith with the Cwmcarn situation and having decided to send their children to alternatives schools (Risca) included can now concentrate on the most important job in supporting your child's education regardless of the name/over inflated reputation of the school.

Well said

Well said.

'hear! hear! ' mrbossman!! what they are doing is so obvious! why is there no higher authority investigating their actions! lets hope this protest will get some reaction from our elected leaders!!

There are a lot of out of catchment children in the school, their catchment schools may be one of several ccbc schools or for some out of the LA.

I think it's fair to say that parents make decisions on what is best for their children on an individual basis, given that they have the choice to do that under the Admissions Code.

It's not necessarily an attack on other schools just an expression of choice, and parents don't want that choice taken away from them,

Many parents have put themselves to inconvenience and additional expense to allow their children to attend Cwmcarn, because they feel it is the best for their children.

It has had consistently high results for Gcse without falling back on Btechs which inflate a schools performance but may not equip students for further study (this is especially the case in sciences).

What I have never been able to see is why this authority cannot recognise examples of good practise in its schools, and encourage all schools to have equally high standards in all areas.

Surely this would have the effect of raising standards for all children and improving education in all schools and the authority as a whole.

Cwmcarn has been a victim of the politicians and their long memories and this can only have contributed to the lack of funding and ultimately the physical condition of SOME of the buildings.

Why can't the elected politicians and their well paid officers put history to one side. Surely a good school with good students and good teachers, with a history of good results and potential future good results is worth saving.

If this generation of students are lost the effects on them and their futures may be immense. Yes some will survive a move to other schools and will achieve well but not all.

Ccbc councillors and officers I hope you can sleep well at night because many children and their parents can't at the moment.

In reply to the comments by proud3
The banding isn't based on exam results it's based on how many children get free school meals
So you can't really compare the schools educational standards as this doesn't come into the equation
The real route of the problem is the pupils of cwmcarn school would if split between Newbridge and Risca save their schools from closing and get rid of a perceived thorn in CBC's side
Please support Cwmcarn and keep a highly regarded school open

Despite the fact that I believe the County Borough are playing every school off against each other and that they are master manipulatore.
I have struggled to sleep last night with the vicious attack from those in support of Risca against those supportng the Cwmcarn Cause.

Save Cwmcarn is spot on when they that Banding is no measure of a school's true worth.

The Welsh Assembly Government have very timely published a new website called mylocalschoolwales.g
ov.uk

I would like to point out some statistics to those who attacked Cwmcarn.

Firstly funding per head - Risca is currently funded at 939 pounds per pupil greater than Cwmcarn YET still falls short y 14.5% of meeting Cwmcarn at the main indicator of achieving 5 GCSE's at grade A*-C including English and Maths.

The overall capped point score which is an average of all learners top 8 GCSE results is approximately 2/3 of a grade for each or essentially out of all 8 subjects 5 grades will be one higher at Cwmcarn than Risca.

Yes Risca has a higher percentage of Free School Meals but Cwmcarn actually has 14 more learners - the fact that people have chosen to send their children to Cwmcarn who are not in receipt of Free School Meals should not disadvantage them.

The Core indicator at the end of year 9 for Cwmcarn was over 20 percent higher than that in Risca AND we know that Cwmcarn topped all schools in Caerphilly in this league.

With both schools scoring very similar percentages (both above the county average) the results should almost mirror each other.

Please lets not dispute which school is the greatest - lets just fight to keep our end of the borough healthy and treated as equally as those at the favoured ends.

JWG1967 wrote:
There are a lot of out of catchment children in the school, their catchment schools may be one of several ccbc schools or for some out of the LA.

I think it's fair to say that parents make decisions on what is best for their children on an individual basis, given that they have the choice to do that under the Admissions Code.

It's not necessarily an attack on other schools just an expression of choice, and parents don't want that choice taken away from them,

Many parents have put themselves to inconvenience and additional expense to allow their children to attend Cwmcarn, because they feel it is the best for their children.

It has had consistently high results for Gcse without falling back on Btechs which inflate a schools performance but may not equip students for further study (this is especially the case in sciences).

What I have never been able to see is why this authority cannot recognise examples of good practise in its schools, and encourage all schools to have equally high standards in all areas.

Surely this would have the effect of raising standards for all children and improving education in all schools and the authority as a whole.

Cwmcarn has been a victim of the politicians and their long memories and this can only have contributed to the lack of funding and ultimately the physical condition of SOME of the buildings.

Why can't the elected politicians and their well paid officers put history to one side. Surely a good school with good students and good teachers, with a history of good results and potential future good results is worth saving.

If this generation of students are lost the effects on them and their futures may be immense. Yes some will survive a move to other schools and will achieve well but not all.

Ccbc councillors and officers I hope you can sleep well at night because many children and their parents can't at the moment.

Well said JWG1967. If the councillors actually had an understanding of school performance and were able to interpret the data, then perhaps they could begin to understand what a very successful school Cwmcarn is.