The Vale of Glamorgan Council’s new primary school for 205 pupils with Additional Learning Needs will also help the environment.
Named by pupils, Ysgol Llyn Derw is under construction on land near Cosmeston Country Park to meet exceptional demand for this type of provision.
It will be a second site for Ysgol Y Deri, the acclaimed school in Penarth that was the subject of a BBC documentary titled A Special School.
The £20 million facility is being built over two storeys, with the surrounding landscape functioning as an extension of the school buildings, offering teaching and study spaces as well as areas for sport, play, socialising, relaxation and reflection.
The school’s design will benefit from natural light and ventilation wherever possible, green roofs to increase biodiversity and a host of other environmentally friendly features.
Bird and bat boxes have been installed along with spaces for insects to boost local wildlife, while trees and wildflowers have been planted to enhance the school’s green spaces.
Solar panels and a hybrid generator will be used to power the site, which has been built out of energy efficient materials to help make it carbon neutral.
Developers ISG also use hydrotreated vegetable oil and electricity to power machinery on site, resulting in a 90 per cent reduction in carbon emissions.
Cllr Rhiannon Birch, Vale of Glamorgan Council Cabinet Member for Education, Arts and the Welsh Language, said: “Ysgol y Deri 2 will provide a much-needed bespoke environment for pupils that need specialist attention and build on the fantastic work carried out at the school’s main site. Examples of just what a difference this can make to the lives of children was there for all to see in the recent BBC Documentary: A Special School.
“But as well as helping pupils, we also want our schools to benefit the environment. That is in line with the Climate Emergency declared by the Council and our Project Zero commitment to become carbon neutral by 2030.
“Ysgol Y Deri 2 has a host of impressive features that make it clean and green alongside extensive provision for animal and plant life.”
Kevin McElroy, Operations Director at ISG, said: “The Vale of Glamorgan Council’s dedication to crafting a bespoke learning environment for pupils not only enhances educational outcomes but also leaves a lasting impact on the community and local environment. Ysgol Llyn Derw stands as a model for carbon-neutral educational facilities, demonstrating our commitment to building spaces that are both innovative and environmentally responsible. This project aligns seamlessly with the Council’s Project Zero goal to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030, setting a new standard for sustainable development in education.”
