Work underway on new Penderyn Primary School
January 8, 2006
Work is now underway at the site of a brand new community primary school at Penderyn.
Set within the breathtaking Brecon Beacons National Park, the new Penderyn Community Primary School will provide up to 240 pupils with an eco-friendly learning environment.
Jane Davidson, Minister for Education and Lifelong Learning, who attended the recent groundbreaking ceremony, said, “Being here today symbolises the beginning of something very worthwhile – a new school for Penderyn. The Assembly Government is committed to making sure that children are taught in schools that are fit for purpose. I am sure that, when this building is complete in 2006, it will not only meet the educational needs of the pupils and staff but will also be an environmental benchmark for schools in Wales with the new eco-lab.”
The new school, which will represent an investment of up to £4 million from Rhondda Cynon Taf and the Welsh Assembly Government, has a number of innovative sustainable development features including a biomass boiler and solar hot water system, a rainwater harvesting system, eco-lab and recycling units.
This environmentally friendly theme extends to the building itself, part of which is constructed from stone from the recently demolished Treherbert Infants School.
Facilities at the new school will include eight classrooms, a music room and ICT suite, a Welsh Unit, nursery provision and a community room/youth centre for the use of staff, pupils and local residents.
Outside, there will be a multi-use games area for school and community use, a playing field, hard and soft play areas, three external classrooms, an amphitheatre and a woodland walk decorated with pupils’ art.
“I am delighted that construction work at the new Penderyn Primary School has commenced,” says Cllr Graham Thomas, Cabinet Member for Cultural Development, Recreation and Tourism. “Now, both the pupils and staff can look forward to moving into their new building in 2006. I am especially proud of the ‘sustainable development’ aspect of this build and the fact that Penderyn Community Primary School will have some extremely innovative and progressive features.”
“This innovative new school building incorporates cutting edge sustainability features, which not only creates a 21st century school environment but provides ample learning opportunities for pupils to see first hand how the buildings of the future will be built,” says Brian Drysdale, managing director of Cardiff-based construction company, WD Turner. “This latest primary school building contract for us demonstrates the expertise we have developed in construction for the education sector, with major projects completed in Monmouthshire, Newport and Swansea.”
Photos show [above] Jane Davidson AM with pupils [L-R] Connor Davies, Gareth Eckley, Molly Sedgemore and Katie Burton
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