PLANS to which could see the closure of two Torfaen secondary schools will soon be up for discussion.

Senior councillors at Torfaen council will hear a report next week on proposals which could see the closure of Llantarnam Comprehensive and Fairwater High School, and the formation of a new replacement school.

The new school would be redeveloped on the current Fairwater site, with a £6m investment from Torfaen’s 21st Century Schools programme.

The proposals form part of the programme which aims to tackle the issues of ageing buildings and surplus places across the borough by creating schools that are of the right type and size in the right place.

The cabinet report, to be heard on Tuesday (November 26), says: “The Fairwater site is considered to be the most appropriate.

“The overriding reason is that it is because it is more at the centre of the learner population than the Llantarnam site in this area of Torfaen.”

The Welsh Government has set a target of having no more than 15 per cent surplus places in all schools in Wales by 2015.

The capacity of Fairwater High School is 1,312 but only 717 pupils currently use the site. This figure is predicted to drop to 548 by September 2015.

For Llantarnam, the capacity is 1,475, with 1,003 pupils currently attending. But this is forecast to fall to 770 by 2015.

Based on current projections, the new school – to open in September 2015 - would have 1,318 pupils, forecast to fall to 1,142 by 2018.

The council has said it is assumed that the current sixth form provision would remain, although there are discussions with Coleg Gwent and Welsh Government on the future shape of post-16 education in Torfaen.

Councillor Brian Mawby, executive member for children and young people, said: “There is an urgent need to address the growing number of surplus places in Cwmbran secondary schools or risk two of our secondary schools becoming financially unviable over the next few years to the detriment of the breadth of education available to the pupils.

“This is a hugely significant proposal which will fundamentally reshape the future of secondary education in Torfaen. It provides us with the opportunity to bring together the best of both the existing schools which will help drive up the standards of education for the benefit of pupils.”

But a Cwmbran community councillor has raised concern over the proposal, calling it “flawed”.

Cllr Paul Williams says he does not believe it is an educational decision, “but a financial one, motivated by the sale of land”.

“Increasing housing developments within the south of Torfaen focus upon the Llantarnam area, so it would be sensible to local school nearer to pupil’s homes,” he said.

“It is time to focus upon what is best future for our children's education, not a quick fix for the council's budget.”

If approved by the cabinet, a consultation will be launched over the proposed changes in January 2014.