Ysgol Hen Felin pupils were among a group of visitors to the construction site for the new Additional Learning Needs School in Clydach Vale on Thursday, as the project continues towards its completion next year. The young people marked an important milestone of the construction phase with a festive twist – by signing decorations for a Christmas tree!
The major investment will provide English Medium ALN facilities for 176 pupils aged 3-19. The development will respond to the increasing number of ALN learners in Rhondda Cynon Taf, along with the growing complexity of pupils’ needs and the capacity pressures at the four existing ALN schools. The modern building will have 23 classrooms along with a hydrotherapy pool, a wellbeing centre, and other supporting spaces.
Council contractor Morgan Sindall Construction welcomed visitors to the construction site on Thursday, December 11. Among the group were Council Cabinet Members, Councillor Rhys Lewis and Councillor Mark Norris; the recently-appointed Executive Headteacher of the new school, Aron Bradley; and the Council’s Service Director for 21st Century Schools and Transformation.
Thursday’s visit coincided with construction works reaching the building’s highest point and, traditionally, such ‘topping out’ milestones are celebrated with a tree being planted. With the festive season here, it was fitting to use a Christmas tree on this occasion! All visitors wrote a message of support on a wooden decoration, while the pupils also received gifts kindly given by Blake Morgan, the external Project Manager for the project.
During the visit, the group toured the construction site and received a works progress update. One section of the building is taking real shape, with the roof completed and windows being installed, which will soon enable internal works to progress. The second section is developing quickly, with the main structure in place and preparations being made to install the floors. In the weeks ahead, important activity will see the heating, electrics, and other key services installed, along with continued brickwork, roof work, and window installations.
Alongside the main scheme, Morgan Sindall Construction is also delivering key social value projects locally, focusing on lasting community benefits. A brand new ‘forest school’ is being created at Clydach Vale Countryside Park, which will give young people an exciting new space for outdoor learning.
The contractor is delivering a range of educational engagement activities with local young people, including at Ysgol Hen Felin – providing construction-themed learning sessions, career insights, and practical experiences. Ysgol Hen Felin will also receive a new immersive room in January, that will provide exciting learning experiences thanks to a contribution from the contractor.
Morgan Sindall Construction is also working closely with Cambrian Village Trust on several community initiatives supporting health, wellbeing and inclusion, while young people from the Penrhys Youth Group are receiving employability support through training, skills development and employment pathways – supported by Bluewater Recruitment and Trivallis.
Construction of the new school is benefitting from a 75% funding contribution from the Welsh Government via its Sustainable Communities for Learning Programme.
Councillor Rhys Lewis, Rhondda Cynon Taf Council’s Cabinet Member for Education, Inclusion and the Welsh Language, said: “I was delighted to visit the work site for our new ALN school in Clydach Vale – it was fantastic to see continued progress with the new building and supporting facilities. We last visited as a group in August and, despite the challenging autumn and winter weather, you can really notice the progress that is being made and how the exciting development is taking shape. Works have now reached the building’s highest point, and this was certainly worth celebrating at Thursday’s visit.
“It was also brilliant to see pupils from Ysgol Hen Felin come along and see the new school building, along with the appointed executive headteacher of the newly-forming school. Everyone enjoyed seeing the site and taking part in the ‘topping out’ celebrations, with a Christmas theme! Thanks to contractor Morgan Sindall Construction for their continued efforts – along with officers whose work behind the scenes make important projects like these happen.
“Cabinet has supported the creation of our fifth ALN school to respond to large capacity pressures, and the projections that these will only grow in the future. The new school will cater for a wide range of needs in a first-class, stimulating setting. We’ve also undertaken works to increase capacity at our four ALN schools, and created a new Early Years satellite base at the former Tonyrefail Community Centre building. Plus, there is a significant planned development at Buarth y Capel in Ynysybwl, which is a satellite base for Ysgol Ty Coch.
“The Clydach Vale ALN school and the Buarth y Capel investment are two of nine projects within our next tranche of school investments across Rhondda Cynon Taf – within a £414 million funding commitment for the years ahead, being delivered in partnership with Welsh Government. Among this is the new sustainable school currently being built in Glyn-coch, and the new schools proposed for Ysgol Llanhari and Ysgol Cwm Rhondda, for which we’ve recently appointed main contractors.”
