City and County of Swansea council

Electoral divisions

The city is divided into 36 electoral wards. Most of these wards are coterminous with communities (parishes) of the same name. Each community can have an elected council. The following table lists council wards, communities and associated geographical areas. Communities with a community council are indicated with a '*':

*1 - 2001 Census

Corporate Identity

Logo

The logo of the City and County of Swansea depicts a stylised Osprey. It is sometimes shown with the name the council written beneath it or written in a ring around the Osprey pictogram.

Coat of arms

The official coat of arms used by the council today were granted by the College of Arms in 1922. The motto is 'Floreat Swansea'.

The Arms are blazoned as follows::Per Fess wavy Azure and barry wavy of six Argent, of the first a double-towered Castle or, in Chief on an Inescutcheon of the third a Lion passant guardant Gules; And for the Crest, On a Wreath of the Colours an Osprey rising holding in the Beak a Fish proper; Supporters: on the dexter side a Lion Gules gorged with a Mural Crown or, and on the sinister side a Dragon Gules gorged with a Mural Crown or'.

The Arms are symbolic to an extent: the blue and white wavy bars represent the sea, since Swansea is a port town; the Castle represents the Medieval fortifications of the Town; the lion as dexter supporter and on the Inescutcheon commemorates the link with the de Breos family; and the dragon as sinister supporter is the National Emblem of Wales and is a supporter in the Achievement of Arms of the present Lord Swansea.

In April 1974, the City of Swansea was merged with the Gower Rural District to form the new District and City of Swansea. The Arms granted to the Corporation of the County Borough of Swansea in 1922 were transferred unchanged to the new City Council in May 1975. The Certificate of Transfer of the College of Arms dated 11 March 1976 confirmed the re-granting of the Arms. With the 1996 reorganisation of local government, the arms were transferred a second time to the present City Council. [ [http://www.opsi.gov.uk/SI/si1996/Uksi_19961930_en_2.htm The Local Authorities (Armorial Bearings) (No. 2) (Wales) Order 1996 (1996 No. 1930 ) (OPSI website), accessed October 2, 2007] ]

Local education authority

The council serves as the local education authority for schools based within the unitary authority area.

chools

Top performing secondary schools in City and County of Swansea, based on 5 GCSEs, A-C Grade, according to the latest inspection reports from Estyn

*79% Bishopston Comprehensive School, Bishopston
*72% Olchfa Comprehensive School, Sketty
*72% Ysgol Gyfun Gwyr, Gowerton,(Welsh)
*64% Bishop Vaughan Catholic Comprehensive School, Morriston
*56% Pontarddulais Comprehensive School, Pontarddulais
*51% Gowerton Comprehensive School, Gowerton
*51% Penyrheol Comprehensive School, Gorseinon
*45% Birchgrove Comprehensive School, Birchgrove
*44% Bishop Gore School, Sketty
*43% Morriston Comprehensive School, Morriston
*40% Pentrehafod School, Hafod
*34% Cefn Hengoed Community Comprehensive, Winch Wen
*14% Daniel James Community School, Treboeth
*5% Dylan Thomas Community School, Cockett

Ysgol Gyfun Bryntawe is a new Welsh Medium Comprehensive School which opened in 2003. Their GCSE results will be published in late 2008 after Y11 sit their exams. According to the latest Estyn inspection the school scored Grade 1 in most areas that were tested, so exam results are anticipated to be exceptional. The Times newspaper called it `one of leading schools in the country`. [http://www.property.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/property/buying_and_selling/article2103445.ece]

Council premises

*Civic Centre nee County Hall
*Guildhall
*Mansion House
*Penllergaer Civic Centre

References

ee also

*List of Parliamentary constituencies in West Glamorgan

External links

* [http://www.swansea.gov.uk/media/pdf/g/j/05Aug11_All.pdf City and County of Swansea: Council Constitution]
* [http://www.swansea.gov.uk City and County of Swansea] (official site)