Cabinet agree replacement school plans for Band B submission

Bridgend County Borough Council’s cabinet has approved plans to submit a revised Band B scheme under the second wave of the Welsh Government’s 21^st Century Schools and Colleges Programme. 

Under the plans, the existing Mynydd Cynffig Primary School in Kenfig Hill would be replaced with a new build.

The development plans for a replacement school are subject to an options appraisal and feasibility study, which will inform the Welsh Government business case process.

The school’s inclusion in the Band B submissions substitutes a dual-stream, Welsh and English-medium primary school at Parc Afon Ewenni, a 20-acre development site in Coychurch Lower, Bridgend.

The new build would be designed as a two form entry school plus nursery.

A replacement Mynydd Cynffig Primary School had been earmarked as a priority scheme for Bridgend for Band C of the 21st Century Schools and Colleges Programme. However due to various reasons, it has now been brought forward.

Progression on the Parc Afon Ewenni development site which is integral to the new school has been delayed and the infants site of Mynydd Cynffig Primary School has significant building issues meaning it can no longer be used on health and safety grounds. While we have had to make these changes to the Band B school submissions, there is no change to our commitment to Welsh-medium provision.

We are fully committed to the provision of Welsh-medium places and are exploring various options to increase education pupil places in key areas of the county borough. We are also considering alternative options for the delivery of provision in the south east area.

Council leader Huw David

Over the last few months, before the lockdown, infant pupils at Mynydd Cynffig Primary School were being transported to Corneli Primary School, Ysgol Y Ferch O’r Sgêr and the Integrated Children’s Centre daily to receive their education.

Bridgend County Borough Council recently committed £1.2m for the provision of new modular classrooms which would enable the school’s infant pupils to be educated on site until the new school is built. 

The council’s cabinet member for education and regeneration Charles Smith said: “One of the tasks ahead is to examine options for the location of the new school, and the logistics of building this to minimise the disruption of everyday activities in the existing buildings.”

If the Parc Afon Ewenni site is included in the new Local Development Plan, a school on the site could be delivered under Band C of the programme.

Members voted on the plans at a cabinet meeting on Tuesday, June 30.