 Today, (Thursday, 9th February) Kirsty Williams AM, the Welsh Government’s Cabinet Secretary for Education officially opened Llantarnam Community Primary and Blenheim Road Community Primary schools in Cwmbran.
The brand new primary schools have been constructed as part of the council’s and Welsh Government’s 21st Century Schools and Education Programme.
Including Ysgol Panteg, which is due to open to pupils at the end of February, the three new schools have cost a total of £20.5 million.
The council’s cost to build the new schools was match funded by Welsh Government through its 21st Century Schools and Education Programme, a collaboration between the Welsh Government, the Welsh Local Government Association and councils. The programme, which launched in 2011, has seen a mix of new schools built, school closures and refurbished buildings all with the aim of creating schools of the right size, in the right place and of the right quality.
Since November, pupils from Blenheim Road Community Primary School have been taught in their new school on the existing school site and pupils from Llantarnam Community Primary School, relocated from Oakfield to a new school on the former Llantarnam Comprehensive School site. Work on both schools began in October 2015.
Education Secretary Kirsty Williams said: “I am delighted to open these brand new primary schools thanks to more than £20m of new investment and I hope the children and staff enjoy the great facilities now on offer.
“The Welsh Government is determined to continue investing in our schools as part of our drive to raise standards and provide the best environment possible for our children.”
Councillor David Yeowell, Torfaen’s executive member for Education, said: “‘These new schools were match funded by Welsh Government from its 21st Century Schools and Education Programme which is a long-term capital investment programme to create schools to deliver a 21st Century curriculum for Wales.
“Band A of our 21st century schools programme runs from 2014-2019, by which time Torfaen will have been invested around £87 million to improve the school environment for pupils and reduce the numbers of surplus places in line with Welsh Government targets.
“These magnificent new schools replace ageing and inefficient buildings and it’s clear are already inspiring will our pupils and staff. Our ongoing investment in the the 21st century schools programme demonstrates our commitment to raising educational attainment right across the borough. A third new school, Ysgol Panteg will open to pupils later this month and we have recently approved a new school at Croesyceiliog and new post 16 centre for all learners in the borough.”
The leader of Torfaen council, Cllr Anthony Hunt said: “Torfaen council is committing significant long term investment to provide children with safe, inspiring schools which meet the needs of every pupil and gives them the best opportunity to reach their full potential.”
All three primary schools have been designed and constructed by Willmott Dixon Construction Limited and are based on the same design. Blenheim Road Community Primary and Llantarnam Community Primary will have 315 pupil places and Ysgol Panteg will have 420 pupil places. The design is such that Blenheim Road and Llantarnam can be extended to 420 places in the future should it be required.
For more information on 21st Century Schools in Torfaen visit www.torfaen.gov.uk
Heddiw, (dydd Iau, 9 Chwefror) agorodd Kirsty Williams AC, Ysgrifennydd Cabinet Llywodraeth Cymru dros Addysg Ysgol Gynradd Gymunedol Llantarnam ac Ysgol Gynradd Gymunedol Ffordd Blenheim yng Nghwmbrân.
Mae’r ysgolion cynradd newydd sbon wedi cael eu hadeiladu fel rhan o Raglen Ysgolion ac Addysg yr 21ain Ganrif y cyngor a Llywodraeth Cymru.
Gan gynnwys Ysgol Panteg, a fydd yn agor ar ddiwedd Chwefror, mae’r tair ysgol wedi costio cyfanswm o £20.5 miliwn.
Cafodd y gost i’r cyngor o adeiladu’r ysgolion ei hariannu’n gyfatebol gan Lywodraeth Cymru trwy’r Rhaglen Ysgolion ac Addysg yr 21ain Ganrif, cydweithrediad gan Lywodraeth Cymru, Cymdeithas Llywodraeth Leol Cymru a chynghorau. Mae’r rhaglen a lansiwyd yn 2011, wedi gweld cymysgedd o ysgolion yn cael eu hadeiladu, ysgolion yn cau, ac yn cael eu hadnewyddu gyda’r bwriad o greu ysgolion o’r maint cywir, yn y lle cywir ac o’r ansawdd cywir.
Ers Tachwedd, dysgwyd disgyblion o Ysgol Gynradd Gymunedol Ffordd Blenheim yn eu hysgol newydd ar y safle presennol a symudodd disgyblion o Ysgol Gynradd Gymunedol Llantarnam o Gae Derw i ysgol newydd ar safle hen Ysgol Gyfun Llantarnam. Dechreuodd y gwaith ar y ddwy ysgol yn Hydref 2015.
Dywedodd yr Ysgrifennydd Addysg Kirsty Williams: “Rwy’n hynod o falch i agor yr ysgolion cynradd newydd sbon yma diolch i dros £20miliwn o fuddsoddiad newydd ac rwy’n gobeithio bydd y plant a’r staff yn mwynhau’r cyfleusterau gwych sydd nawr ar gael.
“Mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn benderfynol o barhau i fuddsoddi yn ein hysgolion fel rhan o’n hymdrech i godi safonau a darparu’r awyrgylch orau i’n plant.”
Dywedodd y Cynghorydd David Yeowell, aelod gweithredol Torfaen dros Addysg: “‘Cafodd yr ysgolion newydd yma arian cyfatebol gan Lywodraeth Cymru o’i Rhaglen Ysgolion ac Addysg yr 21ain Ganrif sydd yn fuddsoddiad cyfalaf hir dymor i greu ysgolion fydd yn darparu cwricwlwm yr 21ain Ganrif i Gymru.
“Mae Band A ein rhaglen ysgolion yr 21ain ganrif yn mynd o 2014-2019, ac erbyn hynny bydd Torfaen wedi buddsoddi tua £87miliwn i wella amgylchedd yn yr ysgolion a lleihau nifer y lleoedd gwag yn unol â thargedau Llywodraeth Cymru.
“Mae’r ysgolion ardderchog yma yn dod yn lle hen adeiladau aneffeithiol ac mae’n glir eu bod nhw’n ysbrydoli ein disgyblion a’n staff yn barod. Mae ein buddsoddiad parhaol yn rhaglen Ysgolion yr 21ain Ganrif yn dangos ein hymrwymiad i gynyddu cyrhaeddiad addysgol ar draws y fwrdeistref. Bydd trydedd ysgol, Ysgol Panteg yn agor yn ddiweddarach y mis hwn ac rydym newydd gymeradwyo ysgol newydd yng Nghroesyceiliog a chanolfan newydd ôl-16 ar gyfer dysgwyr yn y fwrdeistref.”
Dywedodd arweinydd cyngor Torfaen, y Cynghorydd Anthony Hunt: “Mae cyngor Torfaen yn ymrwymo i fuddsoddiad hir dymor arwyddocaol i roi ysgolion diogel ysbrydoledig i’n plant ac sy’n cwrdd ag anghenion pob disgybl ac yn rhoi’r cyfle gorau iddyn nhw gyrraedd eu potensial llawn.”
Dyluniwyd ac adeiladwyd y tair ysgol gan Willmott Dixon Construction Limited ac maen nhw’n seiliedig ar yr un cynllun. Bydd gan Ysgol Gynradd Ffordd Blenheim ac Ysgol Gynradd Gymunedol Llantarnam 315 o lefydd i ddisgyblion a bydd gan Ysgol Panteg 420 o lefydd. Mae’r cynllun yn golygu y bydd modd ehangu Ffordd Blenheim a Llantarnam i 420 os bydd angen.
Am fwy o wybodaeth am Ysgolion yr 21ain Ganrif yn Nhorfaen ewch i www.torfaen.gov.uk
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