New city school gets green light from Welsh Government

Proposals for a new school for Swansea’s YGG Lôn Las have been given the final funding approval from the Welsh Government.

This means the £9.7 million project can go ahead with Swansea Council and the Welsh Government sharing the costs under the Welsh Government’s 21st Century Schools Programme.

The news comes as preparation works get underway in the grounds of Y Cwm to provide a temporary home for Lon Las staff and pupils so their education can continue undisrupted while the work to build their new school takes place.

It is envisaged pupils will move into temporary accommodation early next year and return to the new school on their existing site in the autumn of 2017.

Education Minister Huw Lewis said: “I am delighted that we have been able to approve over £4.8m towards the construction of a new school building for YGG Lôn Las.

“Through our 21st Century Schools programme we are investing £1.4 billion to rebuild and refurbish over 150 schools and colleges across Wales.

“It is a huge investment, particularly during such financially challenging times, but we are committed to providing  our learners with the best possible educational  opportunities and ensuring their learning takes place in inspiring buildings equipped to deliver 21st Century learning.”

Cllr Jen Raynor, Swansea Council’s Cabinet Member for Education, said: “Pupil attainment is a top priority for the council and one of the ways we are achieving this is by improving learning environments across the city.

“The current YGG Lôn Las buildings are old, poor, increasingly expensive to maintain and in great need of improvement.

“The new school will provide a safe, sound and fit for purpose environment with quality teaching and learning facilities necessary to provide a 21st Century standard education.

“This project is also an investment in Welsh medium education to meet growing demand in the city and provides more appropriate provision for pupils with special educational needs who wish to be taught through the medium of Welsh.

“We have built into the scheme measures which will ensure the investment will also bring community benefits too, including learning, employment and training opportunities.”

The new Lôn Las will provide Welsh medium education to more than 500 three to 11-year-olds in state-of-the art facilities.

The project is part of Swansea Council’s 21st Century Schools Programme which aims to invest tens of millions of pounds in improving school facilities across the city.

The programme has already seen building replacements and upgrades at Morriston Comprehensive, and new classrooms at Newton and Glyncollen.

Pupils of Burlais Primary School have moved out of Victorian buildings into a 21st Century school this term and work is currently nearing completion on a new English medium school for Gowerton Primary. All projects have been supported by Welsh Government.

The Local Authority will be working closely with its contractors, Dawnus Construction, to minimise disruption to neighbouring residents on both the temporary and new school sites.

Updates on the Lôn Las project will be provided through newsletters and posted on the Council website at www.swansea.gov.uk/newygglonlasbuild