Work to extensively refurbish, remodel and expand a Welsh-medium school serving four Welsh counties has been officially launched by the minister for children, education and lifelong learning Leighton Andrews.
A sod-cutting ceremony was held at Ysgol Gyfun Gwynllyw in Pontypool to mark the progression of an unprecedented agreement that is seeing £12.1m invested in the Torfaen school.
Torfaen council, in partnership with Blaenau Gwent, Monmouthshire and Newport councils, is funding the project with support from a £3million grant from the Welsh Assembly Government.
The leader of Torfaen council, councillor Bob Wellington, said: “This is an historic, unprecedented approach to providing fit-for-purpose education facilities for our young people.
“Ysgol Gyfun Gwynllyw is in a unique situation in Wales, as it serves so many local education authorities.
“This is why partnership working across the four authorities has been paramount in improving the site and facilities available to its pupils, more than half of whom actually live outside Torfaen.
“This is a great example of public services working together and making the best possible use of our resources – it is Beecham’s at its best.
“I am absolutely delighted that we will welcome the minister to the site to officially mark the start of work that will improve the learning environment for all pupils, both now and in the future.”
Leighton Andrews said: “This development represents our clear commitment to ensuring school buildings in Wales are suitable for the delivery of the curriculum in the 21st Century. I look forward to seeing the building when it has been completed and I’m sure it will provide young people in the area with the modern education facilities they deserve.”
The £12.1million investment will primarily increase the capacity of the school to 1,100 pupils by creating two new permanent blocks and removing demountable buildings.
It will also address urgent refurbishment to the existing main buildings, as well as traffic congestion issues caused by school buses through the construction of an on-site coach park.
Torfaen’s executive member for children and young people, councilor Mary Barnett, said: “This is an exciting and ambitious project that is the result of a lot of behind-the-scenes work between the school, the four councils and the Welsh Assembly Government.
“Our pupils deserve to be taught in buildings that are fit for modern educational purposes.
“This huge investment will help ensure this and is further evidence of our commitment to providing our pupils with the best possible start in life.”
Work at Ysgol Gyfun Gwynllyw is expected to completed in summer 2013.
Kier Western director Martyn Osborne added: “We are delighted to be starting work on this significant project, which will be so important to the communities of Torfaen, Blaenau Gwent, Monmouthshire, and Newport.
“We have developed a strong working relationship with Torfaen council and look forward to continuing this successful partnership throughout the construction programme and beyond.”
