Top technology for Padre Pio
A brand new Primary School, Padre Pio, in Pontypool, opened its doors to pupils on the 8 September and held its inaugural opening on the 23 September.
Jane Hutt, the Assembly Member for Children, Education and Lifelong Learning attended, along with the Archbishop of Cardiff.
Former pupils at St Alban’s and St Francis’ Catholic Primary Schools started the new term in a brand new school following the closure of their schools.
The £3.5 million project was financed jointly by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cardiff, the Welsh Assembly Government and Torfaen Council. The school has many unique features; it is totally wireless, has interactive whiteboards in every classroom and has the latest High Definition video conferencing unit.
Perhaps even more important to the pupils, they now have an outdoor sports playing field - an asset which neither of the schools benefited from previously.
Environmentally the school is doing its fair share too, with rain water being collected and used to flush toilets as well as heating from a Bio Mass Boiler which uses sustainable energy to heat the building.
Executive Member for Children and Young People, Cllr Mary Barnett said, “This is a huge leap forward for Torfaen. The fantastic facilities which provide a stimulating environment for pupils, teachers and support staff alike.”