Vocational village planned for secondary schools in Llanelli

WORK has started on a new vocational village being developed for secondary schoolchildren in the Llanelli area.

The project involves offering new facilities in the area for pupils to learn vocational skills.

It means that schoolchildren attending one school could go to another for classes on things like construction skills.

Bryngwyn, Coedcae, Glan y Môr, St John Lloyd, Strade, Ysgol Heol Goffa and Coleg Sir Gâr are involved, along with other potential providers.

The scheme involves building a new construction skills facility at Bryngwyn, which will be the hub of the village.

Local contractors TRJ have started work on the £1.2million development which is expected to be completed by September 2016.

There will be a phased move into the new facility following its completion.

Other vocational learning facilities will be developed at the other schools through extending or refurbishing the current provision.

The aim is to develop a vocational centre of excellence which will include the Construction Skills Education Centre at Bryngwyn.

A specialist catering training facility and small training restaurant is planned in an extended, refurbished and re-equipped food technology room at St John Lloyd.

A music technology programme is planned to be developed at enhanced facilities within Coedcae; a performing arts and media facility at Ysgol Y Strade; and a caring and child care facility at Glan y Môr.

An automotive engineering facility at Coleg Sir Gar’s Graig campus, will also be an important element of the plans.

The vocational village is being delivered through the county council’s Modernising Education Programme, with part funding through the Welsh Government’s 21^st Century Schools initiative.

Education executive board Cllr Gareth Jones said: “The vocational village will provide new facilities for pupils to learn different skills, and will also develop partnerships and increase collaboration.”