'Superschools' could shut 11 Rhondda Cynon Taf schools

Llwyncelyn Infants' School is one of the schools that would close under the proposals

Councillors in Rhondda Cynon Taf have agreed to consult on proposals to reorganise schools in the county borough.

Eleven schools could close to make way for three new "superschools" as part of a £75m shake-up.

The council said it hopes the changes would raise standards.

Three secondary and eight primary schools would be shut so two new ones in Porth and Tonypandy, and one in Tonyrefail can open.

Two sixth form centres of excellence would also be created.

If given the go-ahead, the changes would be implemented by 2018.

The wide-ranging proposals include:

• Creating a new 3-16 middle school for Porth and lower Rhondda - Involves closing Porth County Community School in its current form, Llwyncelyn Infants' School, Porth Infants' School, and Porth Junior School and creating a new 3-16 middle school on the site of the current Porth County Community School

• Creating a new 3-16 middle school for Mid Rhondda - This would see the closure of Tonypandy Community College in its current form, Penygraig Infants' School, Penygraig Junior School, Tonypandy Primary School and Ysgol Yr Eos Primary School to create a new 3-16 middle school on the site of the current Tonypandy College. It also proposes relocating the specialist primary pupil referral provision at the Tai Centre, Penygraig, to the site of the existing Ysgol Yr Eos Primary School

• Creating a new 3-19 school for Tonyrefail - Involves reorganising Tonyrefail Comprehensive School and Tonyrefail Primary School to create a new 3-19 middle school on the site of the existing comprehensive school. In addition, the report proposes relocating Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg, Tonyrefail, to the current Tonyrefail Primary School

Proposals also include closing sixth forms at Ferndale Community School, Porth County Community School and Tonypandy Community College and transferring students to new sixth form centres of excellence at Tonyrefail and Treorchy.

The £75m investment would see improvements to a number of other schools in the area.