SCHOOL BUILDINGS
Maintaining and improving the quality of schools buildings is an important task for Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council and its schools. Work has begun on two of the three new primary schools to be completed by 2009. The designs for all three schools: Ysgol Santes Tudful; Heolgerrig Primary; and Ynysowen Community Primary illustrate the commitment the Council has made to producing quality school buildings for staff and pupils; and in providing the very best opportunities for learning and development.
YSGOL SANTES TUDFUL
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Artist's impression of the new Ysgol Santes Tudful
The new Ysgol Santes Tudful will open in the Autumn Term 2008 and will accommodate 390 pupils plus nursery at a cost of £6,011,000. The new school features innovative design to maximise natural light and ventilation as well as incorporating sustainable features. Rainwater will be collected, treated and used to flush toilets and the school will be heated using geo-thermal heat. |
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Front of the new Ysgol Santes Tudful May 2008
The new Heolgerrig Primary School features a central atrium to enhance the natural light and ventilation capabilities of the building as well as providing an exciting area for teaching and learning. The new school is being built upon the current school playing field and this will mean that the existing school building will be demolished at a later date. The new school will accommodate 210 pupils plus nursery at a cost of £4,168,271.
HEOGERRIG PRIMARY SCHOOL
Site of the new Heolgerrig Primary School May 2008
YNYSOWEN COMMUNITY PRIMARY SCHOOL
The design for the new Ynysowen Community Primary School incorporates low carbon and low environmental impact features as well as sustainable materials. The new school will be constructed mainly from timber with an expressed glulaminated frame running throughout the scheme. This simple repeated frame gives each space visual interest and animates the long elevations. The natural products and the spatial design will enhance the day to day environment for staff, pupils and the community.
Artist's impression of the new Ynysowen Community Primary School
Work will begin on the new Ynysowen Community Primary School later in the year and the new school is expected to open for Autumn 2009.
OTHER MAJOR SCHOOL REFURBISHMENTS
The authority recently opened a new sports hall at Cyfarthfa High School at a cost of £1.1m. The purpose built sports hall includes full shower and changing facilities as well as a teaching area with ICT capabilities. The sports hall can accommodate basketball, badminton, netball and football and cricket nets have been added to the hall enabling it to serve a range of local sports clubs, community groups as well as being a valuable resource for the school.
At Brecon Road Infant School a new nursery unit to replace the current accommodation will be open in September 2008. The new nursery, in line with the authority's commitment to replace all terrapin and temporary accommodation in schools, will create and extension to the main school building to enable greater flexibility within the Early Years' and Foundation Phases.
EDUCATION ASSET MANAGEMENT PLAN
Within its Education Asset Management Plan the authority plans to develop school buildings in a way that will:
- raise standards of educational attainment;
- enable inclusion of pupils with disabilities into mainstream schools (whenever possible);
- ensure the provision of safe and secure buildings;
- provide sustainable and energy efficient buildings;
- provide innovative design solutions which, for example, reflect the changing needs of ICT in schools;
- promote community use of school facilities;
- take into account the need for the planning of school places; and
- ensure best value for money and effective management of new and existing school buildings.
Further information about school buildings can be obtained from the Integrated Children's Services Department:
telephone 01685/724600
email education@merthyr.gov.uk