Statement on Ysgol Heol Goffa, Llanelli

Carmarthenshire County Council is unable to continue with its current plans to build a new special school in Llanelli, to replace the existing Ysgol Heol Goffa, due to financial pressures.

The Headteacher, Miss Ceri Hopkins and school governors were informed of the County Council’s decision at a meeting with the Cabinet Member for Education and Welsh Language, Cllr Glynog Davies, and Council officers on Thursday, 9 May 2024.

Delivering services that are specific to each individual pupil with additional learning needs remains a high priority for Carmarthenshire County Council. A decision has been taken to explore alternative approaches which are in line with the County Council’s strategic vision and officers have been tasked with developing alternative proposals for delivering specialist provision education in Llanelli.

A full assessment of the current school building is due to be carried out by the County Council in order to identify and deliver improvement works to the existing building.  

 

Carmarthenshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Education and Welsh Language - Cllr Glynog Davies said:

Given the current economic climate and the financial strains upon the Local Authority, the cost for building a new special school to replace Heol Goffa is not financially viable. 

Carmarthenshire County Council firmly believes that children and young people have a fundamental right to access quality education and I would like to reassure parents that we are working hard on developing alternative proposals that will serve the needs of our learners whilst aligning more closely with the Council’s strategic vision and Welsh Government’s ALN Transformation Programme.” 

 

The Headteacher of Ysgol Heol Goffa, Miss Ceri Hopkins said:

As a school we are obviously very disappointed with the Council’s decision not to proceed with plans to develop a much-needed new school building for Heol Goffa. 

Sadly, we are all too aware of the severe financial pressures facing everyone, the County Council included. That said, we will be working closely with the Council following assurances that improvements will be carried out to improve our current school building, and we look forward to the future plans for delivering specialist provision education that is appropriate to meet the needs of the most vulnerable learners across the authority."