New Bangor Primary School Will Give Youngsters Best Possible Start, Says First Minister

A new £5.1m primary school will give the children of Maesgeirchen, Bangor, the best possible start in life First Minister Carwyn Jones said today [Friday, 11 November]. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The First Minister was visiting the site of the new Ysgol Glancegin which is being built next to the existing school. The new school is jointly funded by Gwynedd Council and the Welsh Government through its 21st Century Schools and Education Programme. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Building work began in the summer with the new school due to open in September 2017. The development will ensure the best teaching environment, including an external teaching space as well as providing new play areas which will support children’s development across all parts of the curriculum. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The new building will also provide an improved environment for pastoral care for pupils and families. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

During his visit the First Minister also met some of the school’s pupils who have been involved in the plans for the new school. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The First Minister said: “It’s been a pleasure to be here in Maesgeirchen today to see this fantastic development which will be of real benefit for the pupils, teachers and parents. It’s good to see the results of investment in our schools on the ground. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“With the new school right next to the existing school the pupils can keep a close eye on developments, and it was pleasing to see that they have been involved in the design for the school. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“It’s not only the pupils and teachers who’ll benefit from this new development, but the wider community will too as this is a major construction scheme creating employment and providing opportunities for local suppliers.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Councillor Gareth Thomas, Gwynedd Council Cabinet Member for Education, said: “As a Council, we are eager to ensure that children within communities across the county, wherever they live, have access to the best possible educational resources. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“It is therefore fantastic that work is progressing well on the project to build the new Ysgol Glancegin. With an investment of over £5 million, when the school opens its doors in 2017, children in this area of Bangor will benefit from a modern teaching environment as well as a new outdoor play and educational area.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​