Construction Underway On Two New Primary Schools In Betws

Construction work has begun on two new primary schools which will be built on the site of the current Betws Primary School. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

A brand new Betws Primary School will be created, as well as a relocated Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg Cwm Garw. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The project is costing a total of £11.2m and is being joint funded by Bridgend County Borough Council and the Welsh Government’s 21st century schools programme. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

A ground-breaking ceremony was held last week to mark the start of construction work getting underway, and Councillor Huw David, the Leader of Bridgend County Borough Council, said: “I’m delighted that we have reached this important milestone in a development that will leave a lasting legacy for both the Ogmore and Garw valleys. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Betws Primary School was extensively damaged by an electrical fire in 2012, and some children have had to be taught in temporary classrooms ever since. The brand new Betws Primary will be built adjacent to a new YGG Cwm Garw, which is relocating from its ageing premises in nearby Pontycymer. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Both new schools will be fully equipped with state of the art facilities. For the YGG Cwm Garw pupils, this will include enhanced outdoor spaces compared to their current school, and, for the first time, on-site sports pitches. There will also be improved access for disabled children.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The council’s Deputy Leader, Councillor Hywel Williams added: “I would like to thank everyone who has worked so hard on this project and I’m really looking forward to seeing the two new schools open in just under two years’ time. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“We are extremely proud of our school modernisation programme in Bridgend County Borough. Within the last decade we have seen the completion of multi-million-pound projects including Archbishop McGrath Catholic School, Coleg Cymunedol Y Dderwen, Coity Primary School, Maesteg Comprehensive School, Penyfai CIW Primary School, Caerau Primary School, Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Llangynwyd and the Bryncethin Campus. We are also about to start construction work on a new Brynmenyn Primary School. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“These schools are among the very best in Wales, providing first class learning environments that will enable current and future generations of pupils to excel and achieve their full potential.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The new Betws Primary School and Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg Cwm Garw have been designed by Bridgend County Borough Council’s in-house design team and are being built by Andrew Scott Limited. The new buildings will be built to BREEAM ‘excellent’ standards of sustainability, using more than 15 per cent of recycled materials. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​