Translate the text from English to Welsh.



 
The Welsh Government is changing the School Organisation Code that guides decisions about schools.

The Education Secretary has launched a consultation on the changes, which include:

* Proposers having to consider whether a rural school will be closed by referring to a ‘rural school’ list
* Proposals to close a rural school must identify clear and specific reasons for closure, set out the alternatives that have been identified, with an assessment of these including likely education benefits, impact on the community and the likely effect on travelling arrangements and explain why the closure is the most appropriate course of action.
* Federation to be considered as an alternative in all cases.
* Consideration of alternatives to be a two\-stage process with the proposer having to consider other alternatives that emerge during the consultation process.
* Any consultations on closures to be published on a school day and the local community made aware.
* The code will be revised to better reflect that addressing surplus places does not necessarily mean closing schools and alternatives to closure should be considered.

Kirsty Williams has also announced that the Welsh Government will establish the first ever designation of rural schools and develop a list of rural schools for the purposes of the presumption against closure of rural schools.

 Kirsty Williams said:


> “Rural schools face unique issues and I want to ensure that pupils that attend them have the same opportunities as children in other areas.
> 
>  “These proposals strengthen the School Organisation Code to make sure that councils and other proposers do everything they can to keep a rural school open before deciding to consult on closure.  
> 
> “Talking and engaging with the local community is vital. If there is a consultation to close a school, all options and suggestions that emerge form this must be considered before a decision is made. This might include federation with other schools or increasing the community use of school buildings to make the school more viable.
> 
> “Rural schools are at the heart of community life. I therefore want to make sure these schools get a fair hearing when their future is being considered. These plans will play a key part in our national mission to raise standards and offer opportunities to all our young people.”

Last year Kirsty Williams announced a new £2\.5m a year small and rural schools grant to encourage innovation and support school to school working Councils submitted their proposals to the Welsh Government at the end of May and these are currently being assessed.







Translation:


 
Mae Llywodraeth Cymru'n newid y Cod Trefniadaeth Ysgolion sy'n rhoi arweiniad wrth wneud penderfyniadau am ysgolion.

Lansiodd yr Ysgrifennydd Addysg ymgynghoriad ynghylch y newidiadau, sy'n cynnwys y canlynol:

* Mae cynigwyr yn gorfod ystyried p'un ai i gau ysgol wledig drwy gyfeirio at restr 'ysgolion gwledig'.
* Mae'n ofynnol i gynigion i gau ysgol wledig nodi rhesymau clir a phenodol dros gau'r ysgol a rhoi manylion y cynigion amgen a nodwyd ynghyd ag asesiad o'r rhain sy’n cynnwys manteision addysgol tebygol, effaith ar y gymuned a'r effaith debygol ar drefniadau teithio, ac yn egluro pam mai cau'r ysgol yw'r cam mwyaf priodol i'w gymryd.
* Mae ffedereiddio i'w ystyried fel dewis amgen ym mhob achos.
* Proses dau gam fydd y gwaith o ystyried cynigion amgen. Bydd y cynigydd yn gorfod ystyried cynigion amgen eraill sy'n dod i'r amlwg yn ystod y broses ymgynghori.
* Mae unrhyw ymgynghoriadau ynghylch cau ysgol i gael eu cyhoeddi ar ddiwrnod ysgol ac mae'n rhaid tynnu sylw'r gymuned leol atynt.
* Bydd y cod yn cael ei adolygu er mwyn adlewyrchu'n well y ffaith nad yw mynd i'r afael â lleoedd gwag o reidrwydd yn golygu cau ysgolion ac y dylid ystyried dewisiadau eraill ar wahân i gau.

Mae Kirsty Williams hefyd wedi cyhoeddi y bydd diffiniad o ysgol wledig yn cael ei ddatblygu am y tro cyntaf erioed.  Bydd Llywodraeth Cymru'n llunio rhestr o ysgolion gwledig gydag ysgolion gwledig dynodedig.

 Dywedodd Kirsty Williams:


> "Mae ysgolion gwledig yn wynebu problemau unigryw a dw i eisiau sicrhau bod y disgyblion sy'n eu mynychu yn cael yr un cyfleoedd â phlant mewn ardaloedd eraill.
> 
> "Mae'r cynigion hyn yn cryfhau'r Cod Trefniadaeth Ysgolion er mwyn sicrhau bod cynghorau'n gwneud popeth yn eu gallu i gadw ysgol wledig ar agor cyn penderfynu ymgynghori ynghylch cynnig i gau'r ysgol.  
> 
> "Mae siarad gyda'r gymuned leol ac ymgysylltu gyda hi yn hanfodol. Os cynhelir proses ymgynghori i gau ysgol, mae'n rhaid ystyried pob dewis ac awgrym sy'n deillio o hynny cyn gwneud penderfyniad. Mae'n bosibl fod hynny'n cynnwys ffurfio ffederasiwn gydag ysgolion eraill neu gynyddu defnydd y gymuned o'r adeiladau er mwyn gwneud yr ysgol yn fwy hyfyw.
> 
> "Mae ysgolion gwledig yn rhan ganolog o fywyd y gymuned. Oherwydd hyn, dw i eisiau gwneud yn sicr bod yr ysgolion hyn yn cael gwrandawiad teg pan fo'u dyfodol yn cael ei ystyried. Bydd y cynlluniau hyn yn chwarae rhan allweddol yn ein cenhadaeth genedlaethol i godi safonau ac ehangu cyfleoedd i bob un o'n pobl ifanc.”

Y llynedd cyhoeddodd Kirsty Williams grant newydd werth £2\.5 miliwn y flwyddyn ar gyfer ysgolion bach ac ysgolion gwledig. Diben y grant yw helpu ysgolion i weithio gyda'i gilydd a bydd cynghorau yn cyflwyno'u cynlluniau i Lywodraeth Cymru cyn bo hir.