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Peter Black and South Wales West Liberal DemocratsRepresenting Aberavon, Bridgend, Gower, Neath, Ogmore, Port Talbot, and Swansea |
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Assembly Member calls on Bridgend Council to sort out education
February 10, 2011 2:17 PM
The Welsh Liberal Democrat Assembly Member for South Wales West, Peter Black has called on Bridgend Council to act urgently to sort out the problems faced by schools in the area.
Mr. Black was speaking after it was revealed that the County Borough is spending just £5,238 per pupil on education. That is £564 per pupil less than in adjoining Neath Port Talbot and £314 per pupil less than in Rhondda Cynon Taf. It is also 6.4% lower than the Welsh average and £962 less than in England.
In addition a recent report by the Chief Inspector of Schools for Wales classed 14 of Bridgend's 48 schools as being 'unsatisfactory'.
A report by International body, PISA found that Wales' mean scores in reading and Maths were significantly lower than the OECD average, Scotland, Northern Ireland and England. In science, maths and reading, Wales' performance and international ranking is lower than in 2006.
"Although Wales is performing badly in terms of funding, basic skills and the performance of its schools, it seems that Bridgend is lagging even further behind," said Mr. Black. "A Comprehensive School with 750 pupils would have an additional £423,000 to spend on educating its pupils if it were situated across the border in Neath Port Talbot and £235,500 extra if it were relocated to Rhondda Cynon Taf.
"The local Council need to justify why it is funding schools at a lower rate than their neighbours and say what action is being taken to raise the performance of pupils and of the schools they attend."
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