Work has started on the construction of a new Welsh Medium Primary School in Tredegar.
The school build is set for completion in the spring of 2025, however temporary accommodation has been sourced for pupils attending the new school (Ysgol Gymraeg Tredegar) at Bedwellty House, where they will be taught until the new building opens.
The 210-place ‘seedling’ school, inclusive of childcare provision, is part of the Council’s ongoing commitment to increasing Welsh education opportunities in the county borough. The school and onsite childcare facility is fully funded by the Welsh Government. Whilst initial cost estimates have increased due to rising costs which is affecting projects nationwide, the build is still covered by external funding sources and grants.
Ysgol Gymraeg Tredegar is federated with the county borough’s existing Welsh primary school, Ysgol Gymraeg Bro Helyg, and will share the same Governing Body and Headteacher. Ysgol Gymraeg Tredegar currently has a temporary home at Ty Bedwellty (Bedwellty House) until the new build is complete.
The school will allow the Council to meet increased demand for Welsh-medium childcare and education places in the area. The school build will also incorporate a Multi-Use Games Area (MUGA), a forest play area, a growing orchard and wild-flower meadows. The school will also be climate conscious with solar panels and electric vehicle charging points.
A play area on the site will also be relocated on the same site and be furnished with new play equipment. Work has already commenced on this by Wickstead.
Councillor Sue Edmunds, the Council’s Executive Member for People & Education says:
“We’re delighted to have appointed ISG Ltd for this key project as we continue to move forward with our exciting plans for Welsh Medium education in Blaenau Gwent. We want to offer parents and carers more choice and opportunities when it comes to educating their children and help to grow the language here in the county borough. It’s been a great start for the children in their temporary home at Ty Bedwellty and we all can’t wait for the new building to be up and running and providing a modern and high-quality learning environment for our youngest Welsh learners.
“It’s never too late to think about your child accessing Welsh education, and there’s plenty of information available on the Schools & Learning section of our Council website.”
Headteacher, Ms Ann Toghill is looking forward to the completion of the new building on Chartist Way, Tredegar. She says:
“We are very pleased to have established Ysgol Gymraeg Tredegar’s first class at Bedwellty House where staff have been extremely welcoming. Our second cohort will start their time with us at the temporary site next September but we look forward to moving into our new school building during that academic year.
“This is a wonderful time for Welsh-medium education in Blaenau Gwent and we are proud that our staff and pupils at Ysgol Gymraeg Tredegar have already made themselves an important part of the community.”
The new school will start out as a ‘seedling provision’ with nursery and reception classes and grow to provision for all years by 2029.
