Centuries-Old Ceremony For Ysgol Bro Gwaun
A ceremony has been held to mark the structural completion of a £10.9 million extension at Ysgol Bro Gwaun.
The development – due for completion in the autumn – will include an innovative teaching and learning environment for 525 pupils aged between 11 to 16 years; provision for bilingual Special Education Needs and new community facilities.
To mark reaching the highest point of the new structure, contractors BAM Construction Limited, held a ‘topping-out’ event on Thursday (16th March).
BAM’s construction manager, Justin Price, explained the centuries-old ceremony was a way of marking progress in the construction of a new building.
He spoke on the roof of the near 5,000 square metre teaching block alongside a potted yew tree branch that is said to ward off evil spirits and ensure good fortune for the future.
Guests – including four Ysgol Bro Gwaun pupils – watched Pembrokeshire County Council Leader, Jamie Adams, being presented with a ceremonial spanner to tighten the last roof bolt.
Councillor Adams said the new build was further evidence of the Council’s continuing investment in education in Pembrokeshire.
Accompanied by headteacher, Mrs Nerys Nicholas, the pupils representing the school were: Megan Davies and Leon Delaney from Year 7 and from Year 8, cousins Megan and Kerryann Sinnott.
Other guests included the County Council Cabinet Member for Education, Councillor David Lloyd, and the County Councillors for the area: Pat Davies (who is also a Ysgol Bro Gwaun governor); Myles Pepper and Gwilym Price. Also present was the chair of governors, Eifion Griffiths.
The extension is part of an overall investment of £14.7 million in Ysgol Bro Gwaun which includes demolition of most of the current school building and new sports facilities.
It also includes work associated with the retention of the existing hall, gym and kitchen/dining facilities.
Ysgol Bro Gwaun is one of several schools which have been built, or are being built, under the 21st Century Schools Programme – a £120 million initiative between Pembrokeshire County Council and the Welsh Government to build state-of-the-art schools.
Under the programme, the County Council has already opened four new schools and are in the process of building five others around Pembrokeshire.
Captions
Above: guests are pictured on the roof of the new extension.
Centre: Justin Price (left) and Councillor Jamie Adams at the ‘topping-out’ ceremony.
Below: Part of the new extension.
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