Two new schools officially opened

Two new primary schools have been officially opened in Bridgend County Borough during the last fortnight.

Celebrations were held at both Pencoed Primary School and Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg Calon Y Cymoedd, which are among the six new schools to be built locally within the last five years.

The new Pencoed Primary School has been built on playing fields off Penprysg Road, a stone’s throw away from the school’s old site. The new two-storey building contains everything you’d expect to meet modern educational standards and extensive grounds which include a large playground for junior pupils, a soft play playground for the infants, a reading circle, pond, and a large astroturf pitch.

YGG Calon Y Cymoedd is the new name for the relocated YGG Cwm Garw, which is one of the county borough’s four Welsh-medium primary schools. The school has relocated from Pontycymer to its new home next door to Betws Primary School, which itself is less than 18 months old.

As well as a new building and a new name, the school badge has also been redesigned to incorporate a heart-shape to reflect the fact that YGG Calon Y Cymoedd sits at the heart of the Ogmore and Garw valleys.

The doors opened for the first time at Pencoed Primary School last September, while teachers and pupils moved into YGG Calon Y Cymoedd in January.

The official opening events at both schools offered a chance to credit everyone who was involved in their creation.

We are extremely grateful for the funding we received from the Welsh Government’s 21st Century Schools and Education Programme, and I would like to commend BAM Construction (Pencoed Primary) and Andrew Scott Ltd (YGG Calon Y Cymoedd) for delivering two extremely impressive schools.

The high quality of the two builds means that pupils and teachers can benefit from state-of-the-art learning environments. As a council, we are very proud of our school modernisation programme, which is supporting pupils to excel and fulfil their potential.”

Councillor Charles Smith, the council’s Cabinet Member for Education and Regeneration

Council Leader Huw David added: “A new school is always a cause for celebration because it represents the future – the future of a community, the future of local education, and the future that awaits not only current pupils of the school but also new generations who have yet to be born.

“Schools form the centrepiece of a community and help influence the type of people that we become. Both of these new schools are fully equipped to fulfil that role in children’s lives, offering them everything they need for a fantastic start in life.”

Pencoed Primary School and YGG Calon Y Cymoedd join Coety Primary School, Brynmenyn Primary School, Betws Primary School as new schools that have been built, while the Bryncethin Campus saw an existing building completely remodelled, all thanks to Band A of the Welsh Government’s 21st Century Schools and Education Programme.

Bridgend County Borough Council has plans to build four new primary schools and one new special school over the next five to seven years as part of Band B of the programme.