Here are a selection of comments that illustrate what our community is saying about the RCT proposals (if you'd like to contribute please send us your comments via the Support Us page):
"Both of my daughters currently attend Y Pant School and both are looking forward to progressing to their A Levels at the school. Both children have done exceptionally well at the School and are thoroughly enjoying being students. The standard of teaching and discipline at Y Pant have been second to none and are a credit to the teachers and Headmaster. I understand that the sixth form is very well attended and that once again the standard of education is extremely high . A very significant number of pupils go on to achieve excellent exam results and go on to university education or excellent careers. Y Pant has for some time been a high achiever in terms of national league tables and should be encouraged to continue to achieve such results. The pupils at Y Pant should have the right to continue their sixth form education at Y Pant. The proposal to close the sixth form at Y Pant will have a detrimental affect on the future achievements of our children. They and their other classmates are proud of their school and are encouraged to work to maintain both the reputation of this excellent school and to go on to achieve great things in their lives after leaving the school. My wife, children and I strongly object to any proposals to close the sixth form at this exceptional school. The local authority has an obligation to listen to the wishes of the community and its voters. Common sense should prevail and Y Pant shoud be actively encouraged to continue offering pupils a great start to their further eduction or careers."
"This is taken from a letter that I mailed to my local councillor very recently:- Totally off subject, I was just wondering if you knew of any news on the threat of closure to Y Pant's sixth form? The reason I ask is that Y Pant was the main deciding factor in moving to Talbot Green. We only have one child and because of this we both decided that we wanted him brought up in the best environment possible with ideally the best school possible too. We whittled it down to around five areas we really liked. After trawling the internet and doing a lot of research into schools, Three stood out, All were pretty similar in terms of results and success. The first one in the EDO region of Cardiff was a private school (St Johns College) which would have cost around £12,000+ a year, We quickly ruled that one out ; The second one was in Lake side, "Cardiff High". If you look into it, That school is in such demand and parents are so desperate to get into the catchment area that house prices are on average £30-40,000 over priced. That left Y Pant, and an area in my opinion which is much nicer that the alternatives mentioned, (Apart from the only downside of being further from our families it really was a no brainer. I just hope that all the people of this region are fully aware of the benefits of having such an outstandingly successful school on their doorstep brings, Not only for the obvious reason (and most important, their children's education), but also because of the magnetic and positive effect it has of attracting people to the area. If this school was in Cardiff you'd easily be looking at over £10-15k a year in fees if private, either that or the houses surrounding it would be extremely sought after! It is only a matter of time if results continue to impress, (and there is no sign that they won't, in fact it's the contrary) that this school will start to get even more exposure, and that can only be of benefit, not only the pupils but also every resident within the catchment area. I just feel it is an absolutely massive asset for this region and it would be a shame to see something so successful being negatively tinkered with for no apparent reason. As the say goes , If something isn't broke don't fix it."
"Like so many parents of children currently in one of the feeder schools to Y Pant this ridiculous decision has major implications for my children. As a teacher in a Cardiff secondary school I am horrified that such a decision can seemingly be passed with so little opportunity for debate and consoltation. This is is stark contrast with the 'transformation' affecting Cardiff schools. Children need continuity in eductaion to fulfill their potentials, Y Pant is successful because of this. Forcing children to attend a college at the age of 16 will have a disasterous affect on them, they will under-achieve. I am trained as a secondary teacher (11-18 year olds), why would a teacher of any callibre want employment in a school where only some of their training is put into practice be this an 11-16 school or indeed a tertiary college? What gives RCT the right to deprive our children of the best teachers and educationally opportunities? I am outraged that our so called 'represenative' council thinks it has the right to take away the outstanding educational opportunites that Y Pant has always and continues to offer. You have my full support."
"I was an student at Y Pant, and the 6th form there is brilliant. To take children away from the school to attend a 6th for! m elsewhere is ridiculous. The pupils have chosen to stay on for 6th form, not just to achieve their A levels, but because of the staff and the teaching at the school. For them to be transported every day puts more time travelling on the pupil which leads to more stress. The teaching at Y Pant is brilliant, and has helped to achieve such high standards of A level results for pupils completing their A levels at the school. Do Not Close the 6th Form."
"I went to y pant school and absolutly loved it!!!!!!!!!!!! I was also in the sixth form and had a fab time! Please please don't take this from the students, they deserve the best chance and this is where they will get it!! The support from the teachers is fantastic!!"
"I strongly think it willl be a bad decision to get rid of your 6th form. Below are my reasons:-
1. Students need consistancy with the Teachers that have already got them through GCSE's. - Having new teachers may be unsettling for the students.
2. I would also imagine that teachers themselves get great satisfaction out of taking students through to A levels and if this is taken away from them they may lose some motivation/morale.
3. I assume that the reason for RCT doing this is probably to cut costs, but I cannot see how transporting students 10 miles to another college is really going to save money.
4. I understand Y Pant has previously had a good 6th form with consistantly good results, so why fix something which is not broken!."
"Why would RCT want to close down one of the highest achieving sixth forms in the area? I understand that in the Rhondda area in most of the schools there are only about 20 pupils in most of the classes, compared to Y pant who have 200 pupils who are achieving outstanding A level and O level grades. This is outrageous and would cause a major disruption to the future education of the upcoming pupils over the next few years. A very angry mother who is concerned for the future of y pant sixth form."
"I am a parent of a child at Pontyclun Primary in yr 5. I think that sixth form provision should stay local and that children shoul! d not be sent by bus to another location when they can walk to their local comprehensive. This will keep local communities strong and is definitely more environmentaly friendly. Y-Pant offers excellent provision for our children - why change that?"
"I have children in a feeder primary school and nieces and nephews in Y Pant. To close such a well performing 6th form! would be ludicrous and have a devastating effect on the school and local community."
"I have one child who will be starting Y Pant in 2011 and another in 2014 and I do not want to see the 6th form close! This is the best school in the area, let's keep it that way!"
"I really can't see how this proposal will benefit the children in any way at all - the only benefit is a money saving option for the councils. Children are secure and confident studying for their A levels in a sixth form. they know their peers, staff and rules well and are comfortable in their environment. Why change what already works so well unless RCT want to see less children studying for their A levels that is!"
"My husband and I are both ex-Y Pant pupils and think the threat of closing the 6th forms is absolutely disgusting!"
"I currently don't have any children in Y Pant however in a couple of years my eldest will be attending the school. We have chosen the sc! hool for the fantastic stats and grades that children are getting. It worries me that if several six forms are going to be combined into one there will be no consistency. Children need consistency in education and shifting them around could cause disruption in education!"
"I'm a parent of two children who will be affected by the sixth form proposals. My son is at Bryn Celynnog and my daughter at a local primary school. I'm a member of the labour party and I've written to Kim Howells urging him to intervene in the councils proposals as this is an election year and labour does not need this kind of negative publicity so near a general election. Also the conduct of the council puts labour in a very bad light. Perhaps you could ask parents to write similar letters, even as potential labour voters? Every vote will count and national politicians do have a link to local councils."
"Absoloutely not acceptable."
"I am Vice Chair of Governors at [a local] Community College and I am disgusted by this proposal. Sixth forms add so much to our schools and students should have a choice of where to study."
"I am a parent of a student in Bryn Celynnog school and attended the meeting on Feb 2nd. I want to offer my support to Y Pant, as I am strongly against the plan to close 6th forms and feel cross-school support will help to unite parents and send a stronger message to R.C.T. I intend to get involved in the Bryn Celynnog group and hope as prarents we can change a very bad, short sighted decision."
"My daughter has just started in year 7, we are very pleased with the school and I would like her to be able to complete her secondary education in the same school in our local area. I feel that the sixth form is a very important part of a school (for many reasons) and I would not like to see it move from the school."
"I wish our local RCT member would be more pro-active as the changes directly affect his electorate."
"I was a Head Prefect at Y Pant, now studying at University, and my sister is currently at the school. It would be a disaster to think that one of the most successful 6th forms in RCT would close due to Rhondda Cynon Taff's poor reasoning. I had an outstanding education during my time at the school with the highest quality of teaching. If I can be of any help then don't hesitate to contact me. Good luck with this campaign."
"I came across a survey that shows the benefits of sixth forms over tertiary colleges http://www.sfcf.lge.gov.uk/lge/aio/1791358 and thought it might interest you. I am very proud that my daughter is a pupil of the school and the choice to go there from outside the area was based on your outstanding results.
Having gone through a Labour induced educational transformation in the 70's, I appreciate the disruption it can cause to a pupils education and I refuse for my daughter to be subjected to the same."
"I am a former pupil of Y Pant and take great pride in knowing that we have one of the best performing 6th Forms in Wales and in the UK. I am absolutely disgusted about the proposals being considered by RCT. I hope my children will benefit from having a local sixth Form which is dedicated in bringing out the best in pupils and ensure that they have a bright future. In my opinion...If it aint broke dont fix it. RCT should not prevent our children from achieving their the best."
"I am a parent of a child in Pontyclun primary. My child will be going to Y Pant in a year and a half. I am concerned because I do not know where he will go if they close the sixth form. This decision sounds insane to me especially given the good results that the school achieved this year. Keeping it here will give all local children the opportunity to attend and will maintain the strength of the local community."
"I offer my support to this campaign - loosing the sixth form is ridiculous on so many levels. I am also the Proprietor of [a local public house] and if my venue can be of service do not hesitate to let me know. I can get customers to sign the petition and posters will help raise the awareness to other members of the community"
"I am the chair of governors at Y Pant and will do everything in my power to ensure that the closure of the sixth form never happens."
"As a former pupil and parent of primary school children, I am horrified to consider the possibility of the School without its sixth form"
"Please stop this madness. We should be proud to have such a good school in RCT."
"Our daughter is not due to start at Y Pant until September 2011 and we fully support the need for a good quality sixth form in the locality, rather than have to travel several miles for no real benefit!"
"Pupils have a choice at the moment to stay on at Y Pant or to go to a local college.Why do most pupils choose to stay on? because they know the staff, trust them, and know they will be encouraged to make the most of the opportunity given to them. Why penalise a successful school?"
"I fully support this campaign and strongly object to the closure of such a successful sixth form. We must not allow the choice to be! taken away from our children - they must be able to continue to study at Y Pant for their A-levels if this is their preferred option."
"As a parent of a high achieving past student I am mortified at RCT's intent. Y Pant’s record at A-Level speak for itself! If RCT has it’s way the esteem, pride and respect held by pupils and teacher will disappear and parents will consider schools outside the madness of RCT."
"There appears to be a change of view by councillors in RCT and using this view to fit with their proposal to close 6th forms - we have heard that educational standards are getting better year by year and then suddenly I hear that the standards are not good enough, and we need to close 6th forms. I understand the need to economise if there are small pupil numbers with surplus places, but you should not close well attended and successful units in the name of equality. The issue of equity is all too convenient as the social exclusion unit should see closing down 6th forms as loosing very rich and important social capital for the communities. Local communities will now start to pay for national decisions. Improved results and a better equipped workforce for the Rhondda are projected but people will continue to travel to work out of the area if unemployment in the area continues to grow. The tertiary colleges/acadamys elsewhere have mixed results which is not what you have now - it is the councillors/AMs/MPs anti-poverty/social exclusion policies that need to be changed, not the educational policies/methods that have been successful over the last few hundred years. My father went to 6th form in Pontypridd, I went to 6th form, two of my daughters have been through 6th form, one is currently in 6th form and my youngest is about to go to 6th form and that is why I am outraged that this proposal has been presented in the way that it has - it appears to have been done quietly by the council. Value for money is the buzz words these days - well, how can you put a price on a successful 6th form like Y Pant? As we know any capital price these days that are quoted are always more expensive when the building starts - option 2 has not been costed to be compared. With the country's budget defecit, I don't think it is a good idea to have this big capital investment and probably should be delayed. On the other hand the amount of money that is being talked about to keep the status quo in RCT schools (apart from dealing with big surpluses) is not great compared to the money spent nationally i.e. banking, defence budget, NHS. The council could then concentrate on spending the taxes/community charge on education. I do agree that there needs to be amalgamation of some forms but not closures for local schools - after all the taxes collected by the council should be directed to the things that people want i.e. local education. Option 2 appears to be a good option but we need to all sing from the same hymn sheet accross the region. The councillors have made dramatic claims about the educational standards in RCT, claims that they would not say if they were standing for MP or AM - they are using the schools as scapegoats for the society-wide ills and failing national policies on employment and social exclusion. It is amazing that option 4 has a tick on all of the elements put forward and other options have all crosses against them - if it was that easily explained. The plan talks about the project being evaluated in 2016 - well it is going to take a lot longer than that to see the changes in employment demographics from this change in education delivery - the current economic climate globally is stacked up against RCT. National Assembly targets have been missed and so local communities have to pay in a big way now and local councillors are then whipped to tow the line, probably because a private funding initiative will be put into place to build the colleges, and then paying them back will be very expensive and the projected costs will be vastly over. We need to get a concensus of opinion from people in RCT as to what they want and how they see the dilemma/proposal - do people want centralised schools or local community schools which are now established accross wales? The Social exclusion unit's policies appear not to have worked, why will this one work in the education sphere - cost appears to be the driving factor? Globalisation has had a knock on effect for L'Oreal, Staedtler, Just Juice, Bosch and now there isn't much left, there are things like Y Pant to close down in the name of preparing teenagers for a local workforce in RCT, at Nantgarw. If there is any way I can help, I will be coming to the public meeting."
"I find it utterly disgraceful to close the sixth form. Why should we disadvantage our children in the name of saving costs?! It is our right to demand the right level of education for our children. I know that under the current financial climate, one must not be wasteful, however, there must be better ways of saving money other than putting our children's education at risk."
"As a former member of the Governing Body of Y Pant School and retired Senior Lecturer in Higher Education I am TOTALLY opposed to the proposal to close the thriving sixth form at Y Pant School. My opposition is based on educational and developmental principles, which appear to have been ignored in this sweeping reorganisation ,which fails to recognise the intrinsic values of individual schools."
"Both my children did their A levels in the Y Pant 6th year and did very well. They both went on to Cardiff and Warick Universities and gained first class degrees in Genetics and English and Film. My daughter went on to get a PhD and my son went to the UCLA in Los Angeles and gained a Master of Fine Arts and both now have successful careers. I think it would be a great shame and a backward step to close this very successful 6th form and also feel it would have a detremental effect on the school itself with possibly the best teachers transfering to the 6th Form College. I feel this is more about cost saving than what is best for our children."
"Say No!"
"I have a child that attends one of the primary schools that make up the cluster group for Bryncelynnog. I am appauled at the Local Authorities lack of care and complete complacancy in putting forward these ridiculous proposals to shut high performing Sixth Forms. In my opinion it is ill thoughtout by an ill local authority. The potential knock on effects to primary education by creating 3 - 16 year old education wherever possible is to say the least appaling!!!! Choice is being taken away from our young people by bureaucrats trying to save money following their own failings! I am sure they believe that half a red ship at Brown Lennox roundabout in Pontypridd was money well spent! I would have rather seen that money go into the preservation of a great educational system currently working in Taff Ely!"
"I fully support your campaign, It would be a travesty to tinker with something that was performing well, but to tinker with something that is functioning to such an outstandingly successful standard is ludicrous!"
"My two children will be attending Y Pant in the next 3 years. I feel it is vitally important to keep a LOCAL 6th form for the children/young adults of the community."