Barry's Nant Talwg school expansion - Vale Council to apply for Welsh Government funding (From Barry And District News)

Barry's Nant Talwg school expansion - Vale Council to apply for Welsh Government funding

9:00am Wednesday 23rd January 2013 in News By Chris Seal

VALE Council Cabinet members have approved plans to request funding from the Welsh Government, in order to complete the expansion of Ysgol Gymraeg Nant Talwg in a single phase.

Cabinet members agreed the recommendation to request the release of Welsh Government capital funding from the 21st Century Schools Investment Programme, in order to progress the project (January 14).

It would see the school increase in capacity from 91 to 210 pupils.

In a report presented at a cabinet meeting on Monday, titled 'The Vale of Glamorgan School Investment Programme (2012/13 to 2019/20) - Business Justification Case for the completion of Ysgol Gymraeg Nant Talwg', it was stated: "In order to secure Welsh Government capital funding from the 21st Century Schools Investment Programme, a Business Justification Case for the completion of Ysgol Gymraeg Nant Talwg must be submitted to the Welsh Government.

"As stated the aim of the project is to invest into Ysgol Gymraeg Nant Talwg £2.379 million between 2013/14 and 2015/16 in order to meet increased parental demand for Welsh Medium primary education in Barry.

"This project will result in a school with a capacity for 210 pupils, but following investigations into alternative delivery methods for the new school, the preferred option is to construct a system built school instead of the original proposal to extend the existing building in two separate phases."

The revised project will cost an additional £310,000 and can be achieved within the available 21st Century Schools programme funding.

Cllr Chris Elmore, Cabinet Member of Children's Services, said after the cabinet meeting: "The popularity of Ysgol Gymraeg Nant Talwg since its launch in September 2011 has shown there continues to be a growing demand for Welsh medium education.

"Given the rapid growth of the school, rather than extend it in two separate phases as originally planned, we are advocating a fast-track approach to complete the school in one phase, by the financial year 2015, which will deliver a more cost effective solution.

"This decision demonstrates our commitment to investing in education and delivering a high standard of Welsh medium education in the Vale."

The proposal recommends the construction of the new school building behind the existing building; however the access point for the school would remain the same.

If the proposal is given the go-ahead by the Welsh Government, Ysgol Gymraeg Nant Talwg would be completed by 2015.