LLANRUMNEY HIGH'S LAST EVER GCSE RESULTS

As school closes, we congratulate the class of 2013 on their great results

Llanrumney High School’s last cohort of pupils to sit examinations did themselves, their school and their community proud.

The class of 2013 achieved record results for the school with 42% of pupils achieving five or more A*-C grades at GCSE.

The class of 2013 were still in their respective primary schools when the local authority first sought in April 2006 the closure and merger of Llanrumney and Rumney high schools.

Theirs is a school generation that went about their education while unnecessary time was wasted seeking to build a new school on Rumney Rec without the support of the local community. It is to their utter credit that they and their teachers never gave anything less than their best.

Llanrumney High School will cease to officially exist at the end of August. As we wish the GCSE students all the best as they embark on their futures we know that our Llanrumney children will grab the opportunity to make history as they begin life in September at Eastern High.

Acting Llanrumney High School head Jan Hargreaves will lead talented Llanrumney High School teachers and pupils across to the new Eastern High knowing that exciting years lie ahead for education in east Cardiff. A new purpose-built school will be built for September 2016.

We look forward to seeing in September Llanrumney children wearing their new Eastern High blazers and ties with pride. Education and a rise in standards are fundamental priorities for the Labour-run council.

So thank you to the Llanrumney High School class of 2013 and to everybody who has contributed across the decades of Llanrumney High School’s life: 1958 to 2013.

Llanrumney Labour Councillors Keith Jones, Heather Joyce, Derrick Morgan

The above letter was published in the South Wales Echo on 27th August 2013. 

FINAL CHAPTER IN SCHOOL'S HISTORY

LLANRUMNEY High School threw open its doors for the whole community one last time this week. As the summer sun shone hundreds of former pupils filled the school with laughter and reunions as our community came together to celebrate the final chapter in 55 years of Llanrumney High School.

It was wonderful seeing former members of staff. From one of the originals when the school was opened on Wednesday, March 22, 1958, by Councillor CA Horwood to such legendary names as Mr “Rocco” Richards, Mrs Lewis and Mr “Shiner” Jones to modern loyal and talented servants such as Mrs Mahoney. Previous and serving governors were in attendance, including the former Lord Mayor of Cardiff Gill Bird, who loyally served the school and Llanrumney for many years.

As one generation after another toured the school, sharing anecdotes from across the decades, the walls of the old buildings echoed once again to the hopes and dreams of Llanrumney.

From its beginnings as Llanrumney County Secondary School with separate education for boys and girls to its emergence as a comprehensive school with mixed-gender education, it has mirrored the changing educational landscape of our times.

From O-levels to their replacements GCSEs, from offering A-levels to the abolition of its sixth form, from school colours of red and green to blue and yellow, our local school has undertaken more regenerations than Doctor Who.

It will shortly close for ever. We would like to place on record our appreciation to the last ever cohort of staff, students and governors.

Llanrumney and east Cardiff now more than ever before requires a local secondary school that will educate our children to the highest standards, comparable with anywhere in the United Kingdom.

The task now begins in earnest to ensure that no child is left behind as we strive to raise the life chances for future generations. These have been emotional times for Llanrumney but our community won’t cry because it’s over but smile because it happened.

Keith Jones, Heather Joyce and Derrick Morgan
Llanrumney Labour councillors

The above letter was published in the South Wales Echo on 12th July 2013. 

LLANRUMNEY FESTIVAL 2013

William Jones, 5, having fun at the festival. 

Saturday 29th June saw the annual Llanrumey Festival held at the Rumney Recreational Ground. 

Read my letter to the South Wales Echo reviewing it here:

2013 Llanrumney Festival

Read my report for the Guardian Cardiff on the 2010 Llanrumney Festival here:

2010 Llanrumney Festival

LITTLE VICTORIES FOR LLANRUMNEY

BEFORE: Utility box at Ball Lane

Councillors are often fixated with potholes and dog mess. There is a reason why these mundane and perpetual issues take up so much time. They matter to the quality of life in our communities.

In Llanrumney I am always looking at ways that I can make a difference with little victories. I have a zero tolerance attitude to indiscriminate graffiti. Cardiff Council is always quick to act when notified of graffiti. 

In my ward graffiti can spring up anywhere with scrawls and tagging. This utility box at Ball Lane is a classic example. It faces residential properties and sits at a well used footbridge near the popular Llanrumney Phoenix boxing club. 

AFTER: The cleaned up utility box at Ball Lane

By ensuring that we remove the graffiti we send a powerful message to the community. The council is on your side and cares about the environment within which you live. 

This morning I've received notification from council officers that more graffiti has been removed from the fire doors at the Eastern Leisure Centre and from a litter bin at a bus shelter at Llanrumney Avenue. Zero tolerance to graffiti that does not enhance the life of our community. 

Little victories can take other forms. After the new children's play area was installed at Rumney Recreation Ground its popularity was such that the pre-existing bin was unable to cope with the amount of litter from the play areas users. On alerting council officers to this issue two further smart council bins were placed on the site. Immediately ensuring that the play area remains clean and tidy. Not only is this vital for our children who use it but an area that is appreciated and looked after will not suffer vandalism and graffiti that invariably follows a neglected area. 

One of the two newly installed bins at Rumney Recreation Ground children's play area