New Welsh Primary School - Ysgol Gymraeg Gwynllyw

As part of the Welsh Government’s commitment to the goal of one million Welsh speakers by 2050. Torfaen County Borough Council was awarded funding of £8.1m to extend the age range at the Ysgol Gyfun Gwynllyw site, therefore increasing it from an 11-18 to 3-18 school. This has been achieved by the provision of a 210-place primary (plus nursery) department which opened in September 2022. The new extended school is now known as Ysgol Gymraeg Gwynllyw.

The new primary building consists of a two-storey building situated across a split-level site, creating a larger first floor compared to the ground floor. The classrooms for all year groups are clustered to the south of the building providing direct access to external play areas at ground floor, and uninterrupted views of the distant landscape from the first floor.

The core of the new building (hall, dining facilities, outside play etc) has been built to a 315-place specification allowing additional classes to be built in the future should demand require. The general layouts of rooms within the school reflect the current trend in primary school design with an internal ‘street’ that sits between similar age group classrooms and serves as an open space to break into for play as well as for teaching and learning.

The external landscaping scheme provides varied areas for pupils to play. This includes informal hard play with timber play equipment and soft grassed banks for natural play. An external multi use games area (MUGA) has been provided for organised sports play. A learning habitat area has also been incorporated into the landscape design to teach pupils about their natural environment and is a valuable resource for teaching and learning across the whole curriculum.

The school has opened as a seedling facility with admission to Nursery and Reception in its first year and will increase its intake to other year groups on a year-by-year basis.

In addition to the new school, TCBC received funding of £715,000 for a childcare facility which is attached to the Primary Building at first floor level. This provides childcare for up to 40 children, aged 0-12 years and includes 3 nursery/childcare rooms with associated services and ancillary spaces.