Turf Cutting at New Gwenfro Community Primary School

Work has officially started on the £4.9 million new school in Wrexham. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The school will replace the existing Gwenfro Community Primary School in Caia Park and has been jointly funded by the local authority and, Welsh Government through its 21st Century Schools and Education Programme. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Deputy Mayor of Wrexham, Cllr John Pritchard performed the official turf cutting at the site. The Deputy Mayor was accompanied by Senior Councillors, officers of Wrexham Council and representatives from the North Wales-based contractors Wynne Construction. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Chair of Governors, Darren Jacks, said: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“This is a great day for the school. Pupils and staff are all looking forward to learning and teaching in an environment that is modern and equipped for the 21st Century.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cllr Michael Williams, Lead Member for Children’s Services and Education, said: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“One of our Council Priorities is to ensure that all children and young people have positive aspirations, learn and achieve their potential. We are grateful to the Welsh Government for their support in this project.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Minister for Education and Skills, Huw Lewis said: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“We are determined to provide our learners with modern facilities in inspiring surroundings that encourage them to fulfil their potential. That’s why we are investing £2.5 million in this development in Wrexham as part the first wave of our £1.4billion 21st Century Schools and Education programme which is transforming schools and colleges across Wales. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“This construction is good news for the local community and it will provide numerous employment opportunities. I wish all involved in the official turf cutting ceremony all the very best for an enjoyable day.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Chris Wynne of Wynne Construction, said: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“We are delighted to have won this contract with Wrexham County Borough Council which further strengthens our education portfolio. In addition, the project will provide a welcome boost to the local economy, not only securing existing jobs through our local-based supply chain, but also creating a number of new employment and apprenticeship opportunities. We look forward to working in partnership with the key stakeholders to maximise the benefits for the community.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Council and Welsh Government is match funding the project through the 21st Century Schools and Education Programme. The Programme aims to transform the learning experience of students, ensuring they are taught in classrooms with the technologies and facilities needed to deliver a 21st Century curriculum. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The project is one of two currently underway at Caia Park to bring two brand new primary schools to replace the existing Hafod Y Wern and Gwenfro primary schools. The total investment into new schools for the area is £10 million. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The plans follow the amalgamation of juniors and infants sections of both schools. The creation of new schools means there is no transition stage between primary and juniors which can sometimes be a concern for young children. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​