Consultation on Ysgol Plas Brondyffryn building proposal

A consultation is underway on proposals for a new school building for Ysgol Plas Brondyffryn.

Ysgol Plas Brondyffryn is a 3-19 school which provides specialist provision for pupils with autism. The proposal is to bring 3 of the 4 current sites in Denbigh together in a purpose built building and to increase the capacity of the school from 116 to 220 as demand for these specialist places increase.

The proposed site for the new build is the field next to Denbigh Leisure Centre and currently used by Denbigh High School. It is owned by the Council. The proposal is still subject to a planning application being submitted and funding being made available.

Those interested in seeing the plans can attend a drop in session on Wednesday 28^th September 4-7pm at Ysgol Plas Brondyffryn, Park street site, Denbigh. The plans will be on display and members of the project team will be available to discuss the project.

Councillor Gill German, Cabinet Lead Member for Education, Children and Families Services, said: “This proposed development forms part of the Welsh Government’s Sustainable Communities for Learning programme and £23.8 million has been allocated for this development.

“The Council has also made a commitment to provide 25% of the cost of the project, subject to approved business cases and highlights the commitment in our Corporate Plan to improve education facilities for our children and young people.

“There are a number of stages to go through, including this pre-planning consultation, the submission of the planning application, a bid to publish a statutory notice to increase the capacity of the school and a formal bid for funding.

“We’ll consider all the responses that are submitted as part of this pre-planning consultation”.

The plans and online form for comment are available here.

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Proposals for Ysgol Plas Brondyffryn

Proposals are being drawn up for new facilities at Ysgol Plas Brondyffryn in Denbigh, which caters for pupils with Autism Spectrum Condition from the ages of 3-19.

The proposals could be part of the next wave of school investment projects through the Welsh Government’s Sustainable Communities for Learning Programme, previously the 21st Century Schools and Colleges Programme.

The project will be subject to approval by the Council and the Welsh Government of the business case, together with planning approval.

As part of the proposal, Denbighshire County Council appointed Wates Construction to undertake phase 1 of the project design of the new building.

The proposal is to bring three of the school’s four sites together in one brand new building which will be built on the playing field next to Denbigh Leisure Centre.

The proposal will see all pupils and staff come together in a brand new purpose built facility that will ensure the school has a flexible learning environment to enable the school to deliver the changing curriculum requirements to meet the needs of the pupils and help them to reach their full potential.

Ysgol Plas Brondyffryn pupils will continue to access the existing residential provision at Gerddi Glasfryn.

David Price, headteacher at Ysgol Plas Brondyffryn, said: “This is an exciting time for the school as we look to bring all learners and staff onto one site into a purpose built facility that will offer our pupils something really special.

“Initial meetings with Wates and the Local Authority have been really positive and the staff and I are looking forward to seeing how the plans develop and work starts on site.”

Cllr Huw Hilditch-Roberts, the Council’s Lead member for Education, Children’s Services and Public Engagement said: “After the successful completion of Band A in Denbighshire which saw over £90million invested in school buildings and which benefitted more than 4,300 pupils in Denbighshire, I’m delighted to see work on our next phase of new school builds begin.

“This project is a high priority for the Council and another example of Denbighshire’s commitment to invest in education facilities and is part of our work to make sure every young person has the best possible start in life.”

School project recognised at virtual construction award ceremony

Denbighshire County Council has been given a highly commended award at a Wales-wide construction awards.

The Council was given the recognition in the Client of the Year category at the Constructing Excellence in Wales Awards for its partnership working with Keir Construction on Christ the Word Catholic School in Rhyl.

The school opened in September 2019 and caters for 420 full time pupils aged 3-11 and 500 pupils aged 11-16 and was funded in partnership by Denbighshire County Council and the Welsh Government through its 21st Century Schools Programme.

The Constructing Excellence in Wales Awards celebrate best practice in the construction industry.

Cllr Huw Hilditch-Roberts, the Council’s Lead Member for Education, Children’s Services and Public Engagement, said: “The Council is delighted to have been given a highly commended award for the Client of the Year category.

“This highlights the partnership working between the Council and Keir Construction which has ensured Christ the Word Catholic School has provided a fantastic learning environment for pupils.”

Cllr Julian Thompson-Hill, the Council’s Lead Member for Finance, Performance and Strategic Assets, said: “In delivering the projects for 21st Century Schools, the team at Denbighshire has developed excellent working relationships with both local and national contractors to ensure that full value is achieved for the benefit of schools and the local supply chain.

“This recognition by Constructing Excellence in Wales is richly deserved.”

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Completion of new school

External works at the new 3-16 Catholic school Christ the Word have now been completed and the full site has now been handed over to the school.

The school, in Rhyl, now has access to an all-weather pitch and a number of hard play courts. The works have seen the car park and pedestrian access arrangements completed and a new grass football pitch at the front of the site. However this will remain off limits until the grass is well established and can be brought into use.

The new school, which opened in September, has replaced Ysgol Mair primary school and Blessed Edward Jones Catholic high school and is part of the Diocese of Wrexham provision and will cater for 420 full time pupils aged 3-11 and 500 pupils aged 11-16.

The works have been completed by Kier Construction with the last parts of the external works being progressed under strict COVID 19 safe working practices.

The Rt. Rev’d Peter M. Brignall,  Bishop of Wrexham said  “Almost two years to the day since ‘cutting the turf’ and announcing the name of the new school in Rhyl as ‘Christ y Gair’, ‘Christ the Word’ I am delighted to know and celebrate the full hand over of the School and to express my gratitude to all who have made this possible especially our partners in education, Denbighshire County Council and Welsh Government. “

 

“Thanks to go to all involved in the planning, design and construction of this first class school building and facilities. Most importantly thanks are due to the children and young people, their families and teachers who have lived and worked through the inevitable disruption during the building stage. It is they who are the true foundation of this flagship and the ones who have shown and kept faith in this vanguard in schools for the Catholic Church and people Denbighshire.”

“With Christ at the centre, this fresh new school is superbly placed to provide the very best education, learning and life opportunities in these challenging times of the coronavirus pandemic and beyond to the children and young people of Denbighshire; they and all associated with Christ the Word have my best wishes, support and prayers.”

Cllr Huw Hilditch-Roberts, the Council’s Lead Member for Education, Children’s Services and Public Engagement, said “It’s great to see this project reaching its completion. The facilities at the school are superb and fit for 21^st Century learning- a building that pupils and staff should be proud of. I wish all the pupils and staff the best for the future. Supporting young people is a priority for the Council under our Corporate Plan and so far more than £90 million has been invested in Denbighshire’s schools which has seen more than 3,500 pupils benefit from improved facilities.”

The project was funded in partnership by Denbighshire County Council and the Welsh Government through its 21st Century Schools Programme.

First day at school for pupils at Ysgol Llanfair Dyffryn Clwyd

Pupils in Llanfair Dyffryn Clwyd have started lessons at their brand new £5.3million school for the first time.

The new bilingual church school opposite Bron y Clwyd opened on February 26 after moving from the previous building on Wrexham Road.

The project was jointly funded between Denbighshire County Council and Welsh Government as part of the Welsh Government’s 21st Century Schools and Education programme, in partnership with the Diocese of St Asaph.

The school will provide new classrooms, additional learning areas, a reflection area, hall, community room, external play areas, new vehicle access and car parking with a drop-off area.

Bodelwyddan-based Wynne Construction was the main contractor for the project.

Helen Oldfield, headteacher, said: “The school and governing body are delighted with the new school. Today’s opening heralds a new era for a generation of pupils at Llanfair Dyffryn Clwyd.

“The works provide pupils with an amazing learning environment, which the students will benefit from for years to come.

“I would like to thank the project team and Wynne Construction for their hard work on the project.”

Cllr Huw Hilditch-Roberts, the Council’s Lead Member for Education, Children’s Services and Public Engagement, said: “Seeing the children’s reaction to their new school was fantastic. They are thrilled with their school which will give them a first-class environment so they can get the best out of their education.

“Thanks to partnership working pupils have the opportunity to achieve their full potential in both Welsh and English. This is yet another example of Denbighshire’s commitment to invest in education facilities and is part of our work to make sure young people have the best possible start in life.”

Rosalind Williams, Director of Education and Lifelong Learning for the Diocese of St Asaph, said: “We are delighted the new bilingual church school in Llanfair DC has opened its doors. This has been a great partnership between the Welsh Government, Denbighshire County Council and the Diocese of St Asaph working together to achieve the best for the children. This fantastic new facility will significantly improve bilingual provision for the village and the surrounding areas.”

Works commence on Denbighshire’s Welsh Language Centre

Following the successful appointment of the building contractor TG Williams, work has now commenced on the site of the new Welsh Language Centre which will be located within the former science block building on the Ysgol Glan Clwyd site. The scheme has been funded by the Welsh Government’s Welsh Medium Education Capital Grant and Capital Funding of Early Years Provision.

Extensive refurbishment works will be undertaken to transform the former science block to a centre which will provide Welsh language provision for all ages including, pre-school pupils, support for latecomers to Welsh Medium education in KS 2 and 3, a facility for the development of Welsh Language resources and a potential base for Welsh Language delivery partners. In addition, the building will provide a location for the delivery of sabbatical courses by Bangor University which will boost the language skills of teachers.

Cllr Huw Hilditch-Roberts, Lead Member for Education, Children’s Services and Public Engagement said, “This Welsh Language Centre will be a great asset for the authority and will be a key site for supporting the delivery of Denbighshire’s Welsh in Education Strategic Plan 2017 – 2020. This plan sets out a long term vision and commitment to see every child and young person in Denbighshire leaving full-time education being competent and confident in Welsh and English. The Centre will also be an essential resource to aid in the achievement of the Welsh Government’s aim of increasing the number of Welsh speakers to 1 million by 2050.”

Works should be completed on the Centre and associated parking in spring 2020.

 

Christ the Word Catholic School

Work is progressing well on the external areas at Christ the Word Catholic School in Rhyl. The preparatory work for the all-weather pitch at the back of the site is currently being undertaken and the works for the new pitch will be completed by the end of February.  Work also continues on the car park and the play facilities for pupils at the front of the site.   The works for this second phase of the project are expected to be completed by the end of April.

The project is funded in partnership by Denbighshire County Council and the Welsh Government through its 21st Century Schools Programme.

Final countdown to the opening of the new Ysgol Llanfair DC

Final preparations are being made ahead of the opening of a new school in Llanfair DC.

The new bilingual church school will open after the February half term when pupils will make the short move from the current site on Wrexham Road to the new site located on land opposite Bron y Clwyd.

Council officers have been working with the school to plan for the opening day and further information will be sent to parents, while staff will be on hand on the opening day.

The project is jointly funded between Denbighshire County Council and Welsh Government as part of the Welsh Government’s 21st Century Schools and Education programme, in partnership with the Diocese of St Asaph.

Bodelwyddan-based Wynne Construction is the main contractor for the project.

Helen Oldfield, headteacher at Ysgol Llanfair DC, said: “The final preparations are now being made at the new school and we are all looking forward to the first day in our brand-new building.

“The new school will provide a transformation of the teaching and learning environment which will allow pupils to thrive and reach their full potential. This heralds a new era for a generation of pupils at the school and we look forward to seeing pupils benefiting from the new first class facilities for many years to come.”

Cllr Huw Hilditch-Roberts, the Council’s Lead Member for Education, Children’s Services and Public Engagement, said: “I would like to thank members of the community for their patience and understanding with the progress of this project and I’m very pleased pupils and staff at the school will be able to move in to their brand-new school soon.

“Thanks to partnership working we have created a school that will ensure pupils have the best opportunity to achieve their full potential in both Welsh and English.

“This is yet another example of Denbighshire’s commitment to invest in education facilities and is part of our work to make sure young people have the best possible start in life.”

Rosalind Williams, Director of Education and Lifelong Learning for the Diocese of St Asaph, said: “We are delighted the new bilingual Church School in Llanfair DC will open its doors to pupils following February half term. This has been a great partnership between the Welsh Government, Denbighshire County Council and the Diocese of St Asaph working together to achieve the best for the children. This fantastic new facility will significantly improve bilingual provision for the village of Llanfair DC and the surrounding areas.”

Christ the Word Catholic School

Pupils and staff have enjoyed a successful first term in their new school, Christ the Word Catholic School in Rhyl.  The new school which opened in September, has replaced Ysgol Mair primary school and Blessed Edward Jones Catholic high school and is part of the Diocese of Wrexham provision and will cater for 420 full time pupils aged 3-11 and 500 pupils aged 11-16.

The Headteacher Amanda Preston said “We have had a fantastic first term in our new school. All the children in both the lower and upper school have settled in very well. We have had so many visitors to our school community with lots of them commenting on the lovely calm welcoming atmosphere around the school. It’s lovely to see the older children supporting the younger ones in the classroom and on school trips.”

Pupils are also enjoying the new school, a Year 11 student comments “I love helping and supporting the younger children as I hope to work in a nursery when I leave school” The lower school are also benefiting from the fantastic new facilities with a pupil commenting, “The best thing about our new school is having lessons in the upper school, I really enjoy having science lessons in the science labs.”

The demolitions of Ysgol Mair and Blessed Edward Jones are now complete and over the coming weeks the focus will be on the landscaping works of the sports and play areas, together with the formation of the new permanent car parking area on Cefndy Road. Completion of this phase is scheduled to be completed by April 2020.

The project is funded in partnership by Denbighshire County Council and the Welsh Government through its 21st Century Schools Programme.

Christ the Word Catholic school progress

It’s been a busy half term as Christ the Word Catholic School opened its doors to pupils on the 6^th September.  The new school has replaced Ysgol Mair primary school and Blessed Edward Jones Catholic high school and will cater for 420 full time pupils aged 3-11 and 500 pupils aged 11-16.

Staff and pupils are settling in well to their new home as the next phase of the project gets under way with the demolition of Ysgol Mair and Blessed Edward Jones buildings progressing well.

The demolition will continue for the next few weeks and then focus will be on landscaping of the sports/play areas. Completion of this phase is scheduled to be completed by April 2020.

The project is funded in partnership by Denbighshire County Council and the Welsh Government through its 21st Century Schools Programme.