A NEW 1,000 capacity sixth-form centre in Cwmbran could result in redundancies for a number of staff at three secondary schools.

Torfaen council’s cabinet approved plans for the £20million centre, which will be built in the town centre, and operated by Coleg Gwent.

As part of the proposals, sixth-forms at Croesyceiliog School, Cwmbran High School and St Alban’s RC High School are recommended for closure ahead of the centre opening, provisionally in September 2019.

But the final decision on the future of the sixth forms at the three schools has not yet been approved, with the outcome set to be announced in the coming weeks.

Head of education services, Dermot McChrystal, said: “It is unmistakable that there will be the possibility of some redundancies in this, potentially a significant number of redundancies.

“Because the nature of the funding model, going from a school based local authority employment model to an FE (further education) model.

“We have a very good record in terms of supporting staff through the change processes.”Mr McChrystal added that the number of teaching jobs at risk is unknown at this stage as the design process continues and the plan awaits ministerial approval.

“We have a very good record in terms of supporting staff through the change processes.” he said, adding that Coleg Gwent will support teachers and provide information regarding employment options.

“That was the same sort of modus operandi that was in place in Blaenau Gwent when the learning campus there was devised,” he said.

“That isn’t to take away from any change of this scale will cause anxiety and He said they can’t “guarantee” everyone who currently has a role in one of their sixth forms will necessarily have a job with the college.

The cost of the project will be split between Torfaen council and the Welsh Government, with each paying £10million in line with the 21st Century Schools Programme.

The location for the centre was one biggest issues associated to the proposal, according to John Tushingham, the head of access, engagement and performance.

“Some in favour of it being in a town centre location. Some quite rightly saying for some it may mean a long travel from where they live, particular in the north of the borough,” he said.

“It is often the case when we bring re-organisation proposals to you which involve some elements of closure that we try to put the supply of the provision as close as possible to the demand of the provision.

“Just because of the geography of this county borough, it is a fact that the vast majority of the demand is in the south.

“The further north you move it, the more you are inconveniencing people,” he said.

He added that the infrastructure close to the roundabout outside the town’s Morrisons supermarket and St David’s Road would need to be looked into.

“In terms of the town centre location, there’s no question that work needs to be done to the infrastructure in that part of town, particularly around the roundabout – the Morrison’s roundabout,” he said.

“We are already looking at adjusting the traffic lights for example off that roundabout, where the bus stop is as part of that master planning exercise to improve that.

“The critical bit really for this centre is it shouldn’t be seen as being on the edge of the town.”

The head of access, engagement and performance says that centre could hold up to 1,110 with projected growth in pupil numbers, but it must use the surrounding public transport provisions.

“It is possible that there will be more car users. We’re not putting a lot of car parking on the site. One of the key attractions of putting this centre where it is is the access to public transport,” he said.

“We are meeting the requirements in terms of parking and certainly in terms of the requirement for any disabled users of the site but we are not building a car park.

“The money the council is prepared to invest and the match that Welsh Government is prepared to invest should not be put into building a car park. It should be put into building an educational institution.”

Members of the cabinet approved the decision to appoint the preferred contractor for the project, who submitted a bid of £1.857million to develop the centre.

Additionally, before the ministerial decision, the council has released £300,000 to cover the costs of a feasibility works and a survey to maintain the programme.

A six week consultation process is due to start soon.