A multi-million pound campus development which will see a Cowbridge school double in size has been given the go-ahead. Vale of Glamorgan Council revealed that plans for the new Ysgol Iolo Morganwg primary school building are expected to be completed by September 2025.
Earmarked for land located on the new Clare Gardens residential development to the north west of Darren Farm, the new school will see the number of places offered to pupils go from 210 to 420. Nursery places will also increase from 66 places to 96.
The council's cabinet member for education, arts and the Welsh language, Cllr Rhiannon Birch, said: "It is not possible to expand Ysgol Iolo Morganwg's current premises. The 19th century building cannot support a modern learning environment and limited outdoor space restricts the school's capabilities.
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"The £13 million investment will fund a bespoke, brand new school building for for 21st century learning, benefiting pupils, staff, and the wider community. As a council, it is vital we support the growing number of Welsh speakers in our communities with the current demand for Welsh medium education and for future generations to come.
"A new, bigger campus for Ysgol Iolo Morganwg will support Welsh speakers in our communities long-term." The £13.74 million development, which will be located 1.3 km away from the existing school premises, is part of the council's drive to meet its Welsh in Education Strategic Plan (WESP) commitments and contribute to the Welsh Government's target of reaching one million Welsh speakers by 2050.
As part of the Council’s WESP development, Ysgol Iolo Morganwg’s new campus will feature an adult education and Welsh language immersion centre for primary school-aged pupils from seven years old and above. It will also offer adult and community learning programs after school hours.
With the opening of Welsh medium secondary school, Ysgol Gymraeg Bro Morgannwg, it is hoped that the increased number of pupils coming from Ysgol Iolo Morganwg will be well accommodated in the county when moving on to secondary education.
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