Barry Comprehensive Pupils To Start New Term With New Facilities

Students will be greeted by new facilities when return to Barry Comprehensive School after the Christmas break, following the completion of the first phase of work in the Vale of Glamorgan Council’s £900,000 investment into the school’s building. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Top of the the priority list for improvements were the school’s toilets and a new office-style open-plan block created to replace the ageing amenities. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Most popular with pupils are likely to be the improvements to the classrooms and corridors. Six classrooms have received a full refurbishment with new carpets, blinds, chairs, desks and technology, vastly improving students’ learning environment. All of the school’s ground floor corridors have been re-floored and numerous walls have been knocked down to create more open spaces and meeting areas. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The reception area has also had a redesign. This has seen the front of the school opened up to create a more welcoming space for parents and visitors. In a further effort to make the building more welcoming to visitors the car park has been fully resurfaced and a protected walkway installed for guests. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

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Gerard McNamara, headteacher at Barry Comprehensive School, said: “We are delighted at the work done so far. The school feels more modern, much lighter and more welcoming throughout. It’s also had a really positive effect on the pupils, as our recent ESTYN report showed. While we await the outcome of the Vale of Glamorgan’s decision on co-educational schooling in Barry, it is great to see that the council is continuing to support improvements for all the pupils at our school.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cllr Lis Burnett, Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Education, said: “I am delighted that the Council’s investment of over £900,000 in the Barry Comprehensive School has enabled these vital improvements to be made to the learning environment. It will support the school to build on its recent success and to make further progress in the future.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​