The Development
The current plans| address nearly all the school building issues, makes the most effective use of flexible space and is affordable. The extension and refurbishment will:
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Build a new dining hall so the whole school can sit together in two sittings. The existing dining hall only accommodates 75 pupils, with 924 on roll currently;
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Provide permanent flexible classroom accommodation (currently, fifteen classrooms are housed in demountable Portacabin accommodation);
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Increase office and parent meeting space for the growing teacher base;
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Increase storage for pupils through provision of pupil lockers, preferably one locker per pupil;
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Increase and improve toilet facilities for both pupils and staff, including personal hygiene facilities for pupils with additional needs;
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Improve Disability Discrimination Act Access to the whole school;
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Create a more inclusive teaching and learning environment;
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Provide an area for use by 6th formers;
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Improve pupil flow through the provision of internal links between buildings, wider corridors and doorways;
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Dedicate modest medical facilities (unwell pupils currently have to sit in the main reception);
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Increase space for music peripatetic lessons.
The project will also address the traffic congestion issues caused by school buses through the construction of an on site coach park.
The scheme will progress in four phases:
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Phase One (October 2009 – March 2010): construction of an on site coach park, new hard standing play area, major drainage channels, additional on site car parking and reparation of the existing playing fields;
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Phase Two (Apr 2010 to Spring/Summer 2011): construction of a new teaching block housing 14 classrooms and a number of other ancillary rooms to the west of the existing main school block and situated on the current hard standing area;
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Phase Three (Spring/Summer 2011 to Spring/Summer 2012): removal of existing demountable classrooms and construction of a new teaching and dining block housing the new dining hall and kitchen together with art and drama classes to the north of the existing main school block;
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Phase Four (April 2010 to Spring/Summer 2013): refurbishment works to the main school building as necessary and affordable to create links with the new blocks and undertake priority maintenance works.
Sustainable energy solutions are being introduced such as a central energy centre that will provide heat and power to the new blocks. The existing blocks will be provided from the energy centre when their current systems cease to be efficient.
The school design is flexible to allow for the introduction of a greater IT environment when funding allows and investment in the school will continue to be made as future funding allows.
Consultation with pupils, staff, governors and primary feeder schools has been undertaken and the scheme will be consulted more widely upon within the community as part of the planning process. It is intended that planning will be submitted later this year. If you wish to comment on the plans in advance of the formal planning process, you can view them on this website and email the Project Manager|.
In terms of the longer term demand for Welsh medium secondary education, a solution is being sought which is likely to involve the development of an additional Welsh medium secondary school for the greater Gwent area. The exact location of this school is currently being considered by the South East Wales Education Directors.