Propel condemns Cardiff Council’s £10m spending on private schools amid ALN crisis

The grassroots political party Propel has condemned Cardiff Council’s continued subsidy of private school placements for Additional Learning Needs (ALN) provision, which was a staggering £10,462,880.85 last year.

The party has called for an urgent reassessment of spending priorities, arguing the money is being funnelled into “inappropriate provision” while the state education system, particularly for ALN, is “in crisis.”

Propel Leader Councillor Neil McEvoy said:

“It is extraordinary that Cardiff Labour councillors are subsidising private schools to the tune of £10 million per year now. I dread to think what next year’s figures will be.”

“The Additional Learning Needs sector in Cardiff appears to be in crisis. Children are being forced into mainstream settings without appropriate support. The online provision is extremely poor and appears to be nothing more than a tick-box exercise. In the capital of Wales, we are even in the situation where some people are being denied the opportunity to learn the Welsh language.”

“It makes no sense to throw £10 million a year into, in some cases, highly inappropriate private schools, whilst the state sector is in budget deficit. The situation is wholly unfair for pupils, parents, and taxpayers of this city. This matter needs urgent resolution.

“A big problem also is the fact that in the Capital of Wales, pupils with additional needs are being forced into English medium schools. There needs to be a significant investment in the Welsh medium sector, which has to date been seriously underfunded. We need equitable provision for all children across our city to allow all children to have equal access to their language and heritage. So much in the current system is wrong.”

Propel is calling for immediate investment in local, publicly run specialist provision, with a new purpose-built specialist ALN school in Cardiff being created.

Neil McEvoy continued,

” We have called a public meeting for next Wednesday, the 11^th of June, at 7pm at the Canton Liberal Club, Cowbridge Road East, Cardiff. Parents tell me that they feel bullied and ignored. We want to give them a platform and an opportunity to speak with one voice. Something must be done.”

Propel believes that reinvesting the £10 million currently being lost to the private sector would not only improve educational outcomes but also restore fairness, transparency, and trust in how public funds are used.