Translate the text from Welsh to English.



 
Cefais fy hysbysu ym mis Hydref 2012, yn dilyn arolwg o dan Adran 28 Deddf Addysg 2005, fod Estyn yn barnu bod angen mesurau arbennig ar Ysgol Uwchradd Llanrhymni yng Nghaerdydd.  

Mae gan yr awdurdod gynlluniau i gau Ysgol Uwchradd Llanrhymni a’r ysgol gyfagos, Ysgol Uwchradd  Rhymni, a sefydlu ysgol newydd o fis Medi 2014\.  Cyn hynny, mae’r awdurdod yn bwriadu symud pob disgybl o Lanrhymni i safle Ysgol Uwchradd Rhymni o fis Medi 2013 fel y bydd y ddwy ysgol yn gweithredu ar yr un safle.  

Mae gan Weinidogion Cymru bŵer o dan adran 19 Deddf Safonau a Fframwaith Ysgolion 1998 i gyfarwyddo awdurdod lleol i gau ysgol sydd angen mesurau arbennig.  

Ym mis Chwefror cyhoeddais fy mod yn ystyried defnyddio’r pŵer hwnnw i gyfarwyddo’r awdurdod lleol i gau Ysgol Uwchradd Llanrhymni o fis Awst 2013\.  Gofynnais i’r awdurdod ymateb i’r cynnig hwn gan roi amlinelliad manwl os oeddynt yn teimlo bod modd iddynt gau yr ysgol o fewn y cyfnod hwn.  

Er fy mod yn gweld yn yr achos hwn bod yr awdurdod yn cymryd camau positif i gau ysgol oedd yn methu, roedd, ac mae’n parhau yn bryder imi bod y cyfnod cau erbyn mis Awst 2014 yn rhy faith ac nad yw Llanrhymni yn cau yn ddigon cyflym.  

Mae safonau yr addysg sy’n cael ei ddarparu yn Llanrhymni ar hyn o bryd yn anfoddhaol ac mae’r niferoedd ar y gofrestr yn lleihau.  Mae rhagolygon yr ysgol o ran gwella yn anfoddhaol ym marn Estyn, gan godi cwestiynau am allu yr ysgol i wella safonau gwael.  Yn fy marn i, byddai cau Llanrhymni yn gynt o fantais i’r disgyblion.  I’r awdurdod, byddai cael un ysgol i’w gwella yn eu rhoi mewn sefyllfa well i gynorthwyo a datblygu gwelliannau.    

Fel y gwyddoch, cynheliais ymgynghoriad ar y cynnig hwn yn ystod mis Chwefror a Mawrth 2013, ac rwyf bellach wedi derbyn dadansoddiad o’r ymatebion gan fy swyddogion.    

Bu i ystod eang o rieni, disgyblion a staff ac aelodau’r gymuned ymateb gan  fynegi eu barn imi.  Hoffwn ddiolch i bawb a gymerodd yr amser i gyfrannu at y broses a gynhaliwyd gennym.  

Rwyf bellach wedi ystyried yr ymatebion yn llawn, gan gynnwys ymateb yr awdurdod lleol ac Estyn, sydd ill dau wedi cefnogi fy nghynnig i gau yr ysgol ym mis Awst 2013\.  Byddaf yn fuan yn cyhoeddi cyfarwyddyd i’r awdurdod lleol gau Ysgol Uwchradd Llanrhymni o fis Awst 2013\.  

Er nad oes amheuaeth y bydd nifer o’r disgyblion a’r staff yn siomedig fy mod wedi penderfynu mynd ymlaen â’r cyfarwyddyd i gau yr ysgol, rwy’n credu, ar sail pwyso a mesur yr holl dystiolaeth oedd ar gael, ac er ei fod yn benderfyniad anodd, mai dyma’r peth iawn i’w wneud.  

Byddaf yn cyhoeddi fy nghyfarwyddyd i’r awdurdod cyn gynted â phosib ond yna’n disgwyl iddynt ddechrau cymryd y camau i sicrhau eu bod yn gweithredu ar fy nghyfarwyddyd a bod yr ysgol yn cau ar ddiwedd y tymor hwn.  

Bydd y sail resymegol lawn ar gyfer llunio’r Cyfarwyddyd wedi’i bennu yn y Cyfarwyddyd ei hun.  Bydd ar gael ar wefan Llywodraeth Cymru.  







Translation:


 
I was notified in October 2012 that, following inspection under Section 28 of the Education Act 2005, Estyn judged that Llanrumney High School in Cardiff requires special measures.


The authority has plans to close Llanrumney High School and the neighbouring Rumney High School and establish a new school effective from September 2014\. Prior to that, the authority plans to move all of the pupils from Llanrumney to the Rumney High School site from September 2013 so that the two schools will operate on the same site.


Welsh Ministers have the power under section 19 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998 to direct a local authority to close a school which requires special measures.


In February I announced that I was considering using that power to direct the local authority to close Llanrumney High School effective of August 2013\.  I asked the authority to respond to this proposal outlining in detail if they felt they would be able to achieve closure effectively within this timeframe.


While I recognised that in this instance the authority was taking positive action to close a failing school it was, and still is, my concern that the timeframe of closure by August 2014 is too drawn out and does not effect the closure of Llanrumney quickly enough.


The standards of education currently provided by Llanrumney are unsatisfactory and the numbers on roll are falling.  The school’s prospects for improvement are judged by Estyn to be unsatisfactory raising questions as to the school’s ability to improve poor standards.  It is my belief that closing Llanrumney earlier will benefit its pupils.  For the authority, having a single school to improve will place them in a better position to support and drive forward improvements.  


As you are aware I undertook a consultation in respect of this proposal during February and March 2013 and have now had the analysis of the responses from my officials.  


A wide range of parents, pupils, staff and community members from the area responded and engaged with the process to express their views to me.  I would like to thank everyone who took the time to contribute to the process that we have undertaken.


I have now fully considered the responses, including that of the local authority and Estyn both of whom support my proposal to secure the closure of the school in August 2013\.  Having done so, I will shortly issue a direction to the local authority to close Llanrumney High School effective of August 2013\.  


While no doubt many of the pupils and staff will be disappointed that I have determined to move ahead with a direction to close the school I believe on the basis of weighing all the available evidence that although this is a difficult decision, this is the right course of action.


I will issue my direction to the authority as soon as possible but expect them to commence action to ensure that my direction is enacted and the school closed at the end of this term.  


The full rationale for making the Direction will be set out in the Direction itself.  It will be available on the Welsh Government’s website.