Community Effort Helps Ysgol Rhosgadfan To Re-Open

A Gwynedd school which suffered significant damage during to the high winds of Storm Barbara last Friday is set to re-open at temporary locations in the same village. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Whilst assessments are currently being undertaken to part of Ysgol Rhosgadfan and significant repair work to follow, the community spirit in the village means that arrangements are being made with the aim of pupils going back to school as early as next Thursday. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Thanks to the quick and generous response of the local Mountain Rangers football club, Ysgol Rhosgadfan’s younger pupils will be taught in the club’s main function room for the time-being. Arrangements are also being made with Cadw for the school’s older pupils to be taught in the Cae’r Gors educational centre which is also located near the Ysgol Rhosgdfan building. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Ysgol Rhosgafdan Headteacher, Paul Carr said: “The damage caused to parts of the school last Friday was quite frightening, but I’d like to take this opportunity to express our thanks and appreciation as a school to everyone who has offered their help over the past few days. On the day of the storm itself and since then, the help and support offered has been so overwhelming. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“We’re extremely grateful to the officers and committee of the Mountain Rangers football club for offering the function room as a home for the foundation phase until temporary classrooms will be available whilst the repair work is carried out at the school. In addition, we’re hugely thankful to Cadw for their cooperation in allowing the use of the auditorium at Cae’r Gors for our older pupils. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“This whole thing has shown the community spirit that is alive and well in Rhosgadfan, and we’re grateful that we’ll be able to ensure that pupils return to their lessons as quickly in the new year. Our aim is that the pupils will be able to return to classes on Thursday, and we will be updating parents with all arrangements.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Councillor Dyfed Edwards, Gwynedd Council Leader added: “I have been struck by the community spirit that has helped the Council to find a temporary solution to the situation in Rhosgadfan over such a short period of time. Thanks to the cooperation of the local member, the Mountain Rangers football club, Cadw and the staff of the Council and the school itself, we very much hope that the pupils will be back in lessons by Thursday – that’s quite extraordinary when you consider the damage caused to part of the school building just last Friday. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“I’d like to pay tribute to all who have helped. Of course, further work will be needed before we know the exact nature of the repair work required, but the Council and school will be updating parents with any relevant information once the pupils are back in lessons.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​