The brand-new home for Fitzalan High School has accomplished its topping out milestone, as construction reaches the highest point at the new school building in Leckwith.
Jointly funded by Cardiff Council and Welsh Government, the £64m scheme is the city’s latest to be delivered under the Sustainable Communities for Learning Programme.
To mark the milestone, Cardiff Council’s Leader, Cllr Huw Thomas and Cardiff’s Cabinet Member for Education, Employment and Skills, Cllr Sarah Merry were joined at the site of the new school by the Welsh Government’s Minister for Education and Welsh Language Jeremy Miles MS.
Other guests included Fitzalan High School Chair of Governors Debbie Morgan, Fitzalan High School senior pupils Eshaan Rajesh & Maya Velani, New School Pupil Ambassadors Sasha McGonigle and Wasif Mahmood Jason Taylor Regional Director for Kier Construction Western & Wales, the contractor chosen to build the new school.
We’re delivering new schools as quickly as we can, so the projects we mention in that thread will have moved on – the new Fitzalan High School being a prime example – it’s gone from being little more than a CGI image, to this… pic.twitter.com/Fjspf6XuKI
— Cardiff Council (@cardiffcouncil) February 9, 2022
Cardiff Council Leader, Cllr Huw Thomas said: “Our £284m Band B Sustainable Communities for Learning Programme is the greatest single investment in schools Cardiff has ever seen and in recent years three new, state of the art secondary schools have been delivered.
“Fitzalan High School looks set to follow in their success and I am pleased to see first-hand, the progress made on site despite the challenges of the last 18 months.
“Our commitment to continue investing in schools and education across the city remains priority, providing young people with access to a good education, modern facilities and quality learning environments so that they can thrive and realise their potential.”
Welsh Government’s Minister for Education and Welsh Language Jeremy Miles MS said: “I’m really pleased Welsh Government could support the new site for Fitzalan through our Sustainable Communities for Learning Programme. It’s not only an excellent example of a modern school building for an urban area, it will embrace our commitment of building schools which create opportunities for the whole community.
“The new Fitzalan High School will provide a fantastic environment for learners in this area of Cardiff and outstanding leisure facilities for the local community too.”
Construction began in March 2021 and when complete, the development will include a three-storey high school to accommodate 1850 pupils, community swimming pool and provision of four Multi Use Games Areas (MUGA’s). There will be two 3G pitches will be available for rugby, football and hockey and the site will also accommodate hard and soft play areas and a staff and visitor car park.
Cllr Sarah Merry said: “It is a pleasure to come back to the site and see that such fantastic progress has been made. I visited the in March to cut the turf and celebrate the start of construction. Now, eleven months later and despite the challenges caused by the pandemic, the building has reached another major milestone, with the construction standing at full height.
“Representing a £64m investment in the local area, the new Fitzalan High School will be a community focussed school meaning that local people will have access to excellent amenities on their doorstep, providing a substantial boost for the area.”
Jason Taylor, Regional Director, Kier Construction Western & Wales, commented: “Topping out the structure for the new Fitzalan High School is a significant milestone and means we are one step closer to delivering this new school for the local community. Working collaboratively with Cardiff Council and Welsh Government, we are proud to be delivering a new school that will have first-class facilities.
“From the beginning of this project, ambassadors from the school have regularly visited the site to see the progress we are making and report back to other students and through our on-site CITB learning hub, local residents can find out more about the roles we are recruiting for as well as the types of roles available within our industry. The hub supports the Cardiff Commitment initiative to assist young people with finding career paths and provides practical training and work experience and is part of our social value commitment to leave lasting legacies in areas in which we work.”
The new school will be open to pupils from April 2023.
