Old Ogmore Comp’s Transformation Into New ‘Bryncethin Campus’

The new home for Ysgol Bryn Castell and The Bridge Alternative Provision has been officially opened at the site of the former Ogmore Comprehensive School. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The old school has been remodelled and transformed to create the new ‘Bryncethin Campus’, which supports children aged up to 19-years-old who have emotional, behavioural and social difficulties ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Bridgend AM Carwyn Jones unveiled a commemorative plaque to officially declare the new facility open, while school staff and senior councillors from Bridgend County Borough Council spoke of their pride. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Council Leader Mel Nott OBE said: “For some time now, the council, the Welsh Government and our partners have been delivering new school facilities throughout the county borough as part of our school modernisation programme. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“We are rightly proud of the first-rate educational facilities that have been provided as a result of that ongoing initiative, with a number of brand new buildings. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The Bryncethin Campus represents a different sort of achievement in that we have taken a former comprehensive school, and have remodelled it. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Many ex-pupils will know the site from the days when it was the home of Ogmore Comprehensive. A lot has changed since then, but one thing that hasn’t changed is the council’s desire to prioritise education and work with the Welsh Government and our partners for the benefit of all young members of the community.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Councillor Huw David, Bridgend County Borough Council’s Deputy Leader said: “I’m really impressed at how the old school has been transformed into a state-of-the-art new home for both Ysgol Bryn Castell and The Bridge Alternative Provision. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“As well as enabling us to provide valuable places at key stages two, three and four, it offers further additional capacity for our post-16 provision and provides a first-rate facility for pupils who would have formerly attended the old pupil referral unit and Education Other than at School service at Aberkenfig. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“As the pupils live all throughout the county borough, the site is also conveniently central, easily accessible and has room to spare for housing all of the support services necessary for giving children the very best start in life. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“I’d like to offer my sincere thanks to everyone who has played a part in helping to deliver the Bryncethin Campus – from the project team who put it together to the teachers and pupils themselves.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Also present for the official opening were guests including Janice Gregory AM, Huw Irranca-Davies MP, and Bridgend County Borough Mayor Richard Young. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​