New school for Gorseinon comes a step closer

Proposals for a new state-of-the-art school for Gorseinon Primary could take a major step forward this week.

Swansea Council wants to bring the split-site school together at the heart of the community and provide teaching and learning spaces fit for pupils in the 21st Century.

The new school would cost in excess of £6m and would also include facilities for the school and community to share including an all-weather sports pitch, upgraded and re-sited playground and a bowling green and pavilion.

Next week Swansea Council’s Cabinet will meet to discuss awarding the tender for the school on part of Parc Y Werin following consultation with the community. Any final scheme will be subject to planning permission and final funding approval from Welsh Government for half the costs with the rest being funded by Swansea Council.

Cllr Jen Raynor, Swansea Council Cabinet member for Education, said: “Gorseinon has never had an all-through primary school on one site. Currently the school is based on three separate sites around the town and bringing them together in one place on a campus fit for the 21st century will boost education in the area for generations of pupils to come.

“We’ve looked at a range of options for locations across Gorseinon for a home for this much-needed new school and Parc y Werin is the leading contender because it’s at the heart of the community the school already serves and will offer brilliant indoor and outside learning facilities.

“The proposal will also help to improve the provision of  children’s playing space by providing a new relocated playground and new 3G pitch.

“The response to our community engagement, which included information sessions, was very positive and we will continue to engage with the school to help shape the final accommodation and facilities.”

Gorseinon Primary School was formed in 2012 through the amalgamation of Gorseinon Junior and Infant Schools as part of the Council’s QEd 21st Century Schools Programme.

Some of the comments received from members of the community supporting the proposals during the community engagement include:

“I can see the benefits of a new school in the area – this will attract families to the area, offering up-to-date education facilities. The current play area at Parc y Werin is very poor, so a new play area as part of the proposal can only be a positive.”

“I think it a good idea and will make better use of the space and the children will have a school which isn’t falling down around them and they will have a safe new park to enjoy.”

“Great! New school and a new park!”