Concerns have been voiced about the ability for parents to access Welsh-medium education in the north of Pontypridd. With a new English-medium school coming to Glyncoch to replace the current Cefn Primary School and Craig yr Hesg Primary School buildings, parents and campaigners are concerned about the impact this, as well as the decision to close Ysgol Pont Sion Norton, will have on local access to Welsh-medium education in Glyncoch, Ynysybwl, Coedycwm and Cilfynydd with children facing the prospect of having to travel to a new Welsh-medium school in Rhydyfelin.
Campaigners and parents said that the site chosen for the new English-medium school in Glyncoch was the one they had suggested for a new Welsh-medium school but claim they were ignored by the council. The council has said the location of the Welsh-medium school and the consultation were reviewed in a judicial review in 2020 which found in the council’s favour, adding that the investment will benefit learners and families for generations to come. It also stressed the importance of the Cymraeg 2050 strategy and its investment in Welsh-medium education, saying there will be “no removal of Welsh-medium capacity or choice.”
However, father-of-four Robert Davies from Ynysybwl said he is deeply concerned that his children will be directly impacted by the move when Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg Pont Sion Norton closes in 2024 and claims it is already leading to a decline in local parents choosing Welsh-medium education. He said: “During the 1980s, especially in the Valleys, maybe there was an expectation for children to have to travel to access Welsh-medium education.
