Bae On The Way – Work Progresses On £40m School Development

On a recent visit to Ysgol Bae Baglan, Council Leader Ali Thomas saw first-hand the progress made at the new school. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The project is progressing well and internal works are now concentrated on finishes such as flooring and final decoration. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The installation of fixtures and fittings is underway including projectors, screens and whiteboards and classroom furniture. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Students and teachers at the new school will benefit from the latest technology such as door access systems, and intelligent lighting and heating systems all of which will now go through a commissioning and testing process to ensure they work effectively. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Over the next few weeks, work will continue on the outdoor facilities for the school. This includes the preparation of the playground areas, draining and fencing for the new all-weather and astro turf pitches, and the grassed football fields and running track. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Tarmac surfacing is also underway to the roads within the school site and landscaping and planting is due to commence in the next few weeks. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The highway works which are currently centred on Seaway Parade will be completed in the coming weeks. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Ysgol Bae Baglan, a £40m development, is the biggest single investment in school infrastructure in the history of Neath Port Talbot and paves the way for an exciting and transformational approach to delivering education services in an ‘all through’ approach. It is supported by 50% funding from the Welsh Government’s 21st Century Schools and Education Programme with the remaining 50% coming from the Council’s own resources. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The project will deliver a new campus replacing four existing schools: Cwrt Sart Community School, Glanafan Comprehensive School, Sandfields Comprehensive School and Traethmelyn Primary School. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The local community, groups and organisations will be encouraged to use the school facilities by providing a secure and welcoming but readily accessed and managed environment. They will be able to use the sports facilities and other areas in the building for academic and vocational purposes, as well as performance spaces, meeting rooms, conference and recreation facilities. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Neath Port Talbot Council Leader Cllr Ali Thomas OBE said: “This is going to be a wonderful facility we can all be proud of and I am pleased to see the good progress we are making. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Despite the budget pressures we face, the investment in this new school demonstrates our commitment to education and providing the best possible opportunities for our young people. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Working in partnership with the Welsh Government we are creating a stimulating and inspiring environment for teaching and learning to help raise standards and improve outcomes by ensuring the right schools are in the right place, and that they are fit for 21st Century learners.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The new school is scheduled to open early September in time for the start of the 2016 academic year. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​