Rugby star backs new school plans

Wales and Ospreys rugby star Eli Walker is supporting Gorseinon children who are hoping to get a new £6m school in their community where they can be united on one site for the first time.

Walker is a former pupil of Gorseinon Primary and he still has strong family connections with the school.

Now he’s taken time out from his training schedule to highlight just how much difference it would make to young people locally if a new school goes ahead.

He said: “Although I have many good memories of our existing school, I feel that the progression into a new building which can accommodate all year groups can benefit not only the children, but also the parents, grandparents etc that drop off and pick up the children from school.

“Movement forward into new surrounds can promote new perspectives and new challenges for the pupils. A new school would be an exciting adventure.”

Walker’s message comes as Swansea Council works towards publishing a planning application for a new Gorseinon Primary school at Parc y Werin in the heart of the local community.

At the moment the school is located on three sites in buildings not fit for 21 century education. The infant section fronts on to the main High Street and was built in Victorian times . The junior site is more than a century old.

Glenda Gibbon, head teacher at Gorseinon Primary School, welcomed Walker’s support. She said: “Our school’s values are all about unity. We’re united in the belief that every child matters, every child should achieve their potential and we’re united too in serving our community and working together, developing our pupils’ skills for life.

“They’re the reasons why we want to be and need to be united on one site and that’s what a new school is offering. As Eli says, we all have many fond memories of our current school. But we are all – pupils included – very excited at the potential of a new school.

“A new school at Parc y Werin will offer things to the children some have not had before such as immediate access green space to learn and to play on our doorstep. It’ll also mean parents won’t have to shuttle between the three school sites dropping off and picking up children.

“Our values promote sharing, working together and the pursuit of excellence in teaching and learning. A new school at Parc y Werin will not occupy the whole park but it will fast-forward the quality of our education facilities more than 100 years to the 21 century in one go.

“Just as Eli says, that is very exciting. It will also send the strongest possible message to the pupils of our school now and to those who follow that we in Gorseinon can share, do share and, above all, are united in continuing to put our children first.”

Gorseinon residents and parents will have the chance to find out more about council proposals to build the new school in the heart of their community at a special public meeting at Gorseinon Primary School on September 23, at 6pm.

Further information on the project is also available at http://www.swansea.gov.uk/gorseinonprimaryproject