The first Year 7 intake taken in September 2013
The transformation of a Grade II Listed school in Caerphilly is set to continue this month, after Caerphilly County Borough Council awarded a £11.5 million contract to construction, design and infrastructure specialists, Morgan Sindall Plc.
The contract relates to Phase 2 and 3 of a project which will restore and refurbish the old St Ilan Comprehensive School site into a new Welsh Language School.
The Council announced proposals for this project in 2012 as a part of the 21st Century Schools Programme. When complete the school will provide students aged 3 to 18 with first class facilities and education through the Welsh Language, creating 900 secondary school places and a much improved home for Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg Caerffili, accommodating 450 primary school pupils.
Phase 1 of the overall project saw the old Phoenix Block renovated and the creation of a brand new Sports Hall and was completed in August 2013. The first intake of Year 7 pupils have recently completed their first full school year at the new Y Gwyndy – Ysgol Gyfun Cwm Rhymni campus in Caerphilly.
The refurbishment of the existing Grade II Listed Gwindy Building will make up Phase 2 of the project. This will also include construction of extensions that will form a Nursery, a Hall and a Kitchen. When complete, the revamped Gwindy Building will accommodate Ysgol Gymraeg Caerffili, with their old buildings set to be demolished.
The final Phase will see a new three storey teaching block extension added to the current Phoenix block. When complete this building will house the secondary school facilities for ages 11 to 18. The facilities will include teaching, staff and storerooms, assembly, circulation and utility areas, music and drama studios, toilets, a library and an atrium.
Cllr Rhianon Passmore, Cabinet Member for Education and Lifelong Learning, commented, “I am pleased that we have been able to secure a contractor to continue with the next phases of this project. This site will provide Welsh Medium Education in the Caerphilly basin area as it is expected that the current Ysgol Gyfun Cwm Rhymni in Fleur de Lys will be almost 1000 places over capacity by 2021. The first Year 7 pupils at the new school enjoyed a successful year and I hope this will be replicated for future classes.”
