13 March 2006
The Welsh Assembly Government has approved funding for a new building for Ysgol Gymraeg Brynmawr.
The replacement building is likely to cost in the region of £4.5 million with funding from the Welsh Assembly Government and Blaenau Gwent Council.
The replacement school project will commence in 2007/08 with site options for the new building currently being considered.
Ysgol Gymraeg Brynmawr currently occupies the former Brynmawr Infants and Junior School premises on King Street, parts of which date from 1874.
The new building will provide enhanced facilities for teaching and learning for 3 – 11 year olds.
Councillor John Hopkins, Leader of Blaenau Gwent Council, said: “This is fantastic news for Brynmawr and the Welsh school, which will be provided with modern surroundings in which our children can learn. Blaenau Gwent has a substantial programme of school improvement currently underway with Nantyglo Primary School and Willowtown Primary School having new facilities built. The news that additional funding is coming from the Welsh Assembly to help us progress a new building for Ysgol Gymraeg Brynmawr is great and will help us to provide first class teaching and learning facilities for our future generations.”
Both Mr Rob Withey Chair of Governors at Ysgol Gymraeg Brynmawr and the Head teacher, Mrs Rosemary Williams, are delighted with the long awaited news of a new building.
Mr Withey said: “This is a tremendous boost for Welsh education in the Blaenau Gwent area and will significantly improve the facilities available for pupils, staff, parents and the community.
We are very grateful to the Authority and the Assembly Government for their support in pursuing our wishes for a new building.”
Jane Davidson, Minister for Education and Lifelong Learning, said "I am delighted that we have been able to allocate £2.5 million over two years to support the Authority in providing a new school for Ysgol Gymraeg Brynmawr. This demonstrates the Welsh Assembly Government's commitment to make all schools fit for purpose for 21st century education and forms part of a major package of schemes approved recently for funding under the £9m shares School Buildings Improvement Grant programme. There are now 89 major schemes approved under this programme which are either under way or in the planning stage."
