Howardian Primary School in Penylan, Cardiff has been officially opened by Deputy Leader of Cardiff Council and Cabinet Member for Education, Employment and Skills, Cllr Sarah Merry and Welsh Government Minister for Education, Kirsty Williams.
The School has been joint funded by Cardiff Council and Welsh Government, through the city’s £164m, Band A 21st Century Schools and Education programme.
Headteacher,Dr Helen Hoylewas joined by children, staff and governors to welcome guests, who also included local politicians and those who played a key part in the school’s construction.
Deputy Leader of Cardiff Council, and Cabinet Member for Education, Employment and Skills, Cllr Sarah Merry, said:”I am delighted to see the opening of Howardian Primary School, one of the latest schools to open under our £164m ‘Band A’ 21st Century School Programme and providing children with excellent facilities and a learning environment fit for the 21st Century.
“An inspiring, sustainable and community-focussed school in which all children and young people can achieve their potential, Howardian Primary School is another example of the committed investment we have made to improve and expand our schools through our Capital Ambition.”
Headteacher, Dr Helen Hoyle, said: “Having the school officially opened is wonderful and marks the start of an exciting era for Howardian Primary School for both pupils and staff. Since the children excitedly skipped into their classrooms on the first day back in September, they have embraced their new surroundings and it has been a joy to see them enjoy the bespoke learning areas that we were able to create, particularly the outdoor learning space.
“Our new state-of-the-art school and teaching environments, will enhance the educational opportunities available to the children and itis with great enthusiasm that the school looks to the future. I would like to thank the parents, governors and staff as well as the wider community who have welcomed the new school and have been supportive throughout the process.”
Howardian Primary’s School’s gates opened for the first time at its new £6.6m home in September, after the school relocated from its previous temporary location on Hammond Way in Penylanover the summer.
The project has created a new home for the school, with capacity for 420 pupils, in two classes per year, from Reception to Year 6, as well as offering 96 nursery places. The new school also incorporates facilities available for use by the wider local community including space available for hire. Several community groups already utilise the space such as adult learning classes, health and wellbeing clubs and children’s play groups.
Speaking during the opening, Education Minister Kirsty Williams said:”It was a pleasure to officially open Howardian Primary School today, and to see the fantastic new facilities made available through our 21st Century Schools and Education Programme.
“The state of the art educational facilities at the school will allow pupils to learn and teachers to teach in an environment that is befitting of the 21st century, providing a strong foundation for learners to grow and achieve their full potential.
“Additionally, the facilities incorporated into the new school’s design will be hugely beneficial for the local community, delivering on our commitment to make our schools more than just a place to learn by giving the local community access to top class facilities that meets their needs”.
Cardiff Council announced its next phase of the 21st Century Schools programme at the end of last year. At a total of £284m, Band B represents the largest single investment in Cardiff’s schools.
Cllr Sarah Merry added: “The £284m investment in our schools is the biggest Cardiff has ever seen. It will allow us to continue to renew our schools, replacing those that are reaching the end of their operational life as well as enabling us to provide more school places across all sectors.
“In recent years, together with Welsh Government, we have delivered an exciting range of schools and this next round of investment continues to ensure momentum increases, creating extra capacity needed as Cardiff’s population continues to grow.”
