£60m for Dinefwr schools
Almost £60million could be invested in schools in the Dinefwr area to improve accommodation and facilities for thousands of pupils.
Progress is being made on the transformation of 14-19 education in the Amman, Gwendraeth and Tywi Valleys.
The Welsh Assembly Government funded consultants to carry out detailed feasibility studies in the area.
They looked at a number of sites and options before presenting their findings on recommended options.
All current school sites, conditions of buildings and infrastructure were studied as part of the work, along with sites at a number of other locations.
School governors and local county councillors have been informed of the findings of the feasibility study and the preferred sites for the schools in the Dinefwr area, which will reduce from five to three.
One bilingual category 2B school will be established at Amman Valley with refurbishment of the existing school; a bilingual category 2B school will be built at a new location for Tregib and Pantycelyn; and a bilingual category 2A school will be established for Gwendraeth and Maes yr Yrfa with an extension built on one of the sites.
Consultants for Cwm Gwendraeth concluded that the Maes yr Yrfa site in Cefneithin is the most favourable to develop and extend as a new valley school.
In Dyffryn Tywi, the consultants initially identified a long list of 14 sites, then shortlisted another seven for more detailed scrutiny.
Following that work, a further shortlist of three sites was identified and their preferred choice was one to the south of Llandeilo.
A site at Llangadog was ruled out by the consultants for various reasons including the fact that it would mean an extra £0.5million per year for school transport, (approximately £7 per household on council tax) as the bulk of the pupil population live in the Llandeilo area of the county.
The results of the feasibility study by the consultants will now form part of the business case Carmarthenshire County Council is preparing for the Welsh Assembly Government, as part of a funding bid for the ambitious developments.
If the Assembly approves the business model, formal consultation will be carried out. If it proceeds the consultation would start around the end of this year.
Carmarthenshire’s education executive board member Cllr Gwynne Wooldridge said: “These feasibility studies are very detailed and technical pieces of work produced by a team of very professional people.
“They are making a significant contribution by ensuring that Carmarthenshire can achieve Welsh Assembly Government expectations with respect to its submission for capital funding.
“This will achieve the county’s vision for the transformation of education in Dinefwr thus ensuring our young people will be attending schools which are fit for the 21st Century.”
Progress is being made on the transformation of 14-19 education in the Amman, Gwendraeth and Tywi Valleys.
The Welsh Assembly Government funded consultants to carry out detailed feasibility studies in the area.
They looked at a number of sites and options before presenting their findings on recommended options.
All current school sites, conditions of buildings and infrastructure were studied as part of the work, along with sites at a number of other locations.
School governors and local county councillors have been informed of the findings of the feasibility study and the preferred sites for the schools in the Dinefwr area, which will reduce from five to three.
One bilingual category 2B school will be established at Amman Valley with refurbishment of the existing school; a bilingual category 2B school will be built at a new location for Tregib and Pantycelyn; and a bilingual category 2A school will be established for Gwendraeth and Maes yr Yrfa with an extension built on one of the sites.
Consultants for Cwm Gwendraeth concluded that the Maes yr Yrfa site in Cefneithin is the most favourable to develop and extend as a new valley school.
In Dyffryn Tywi, the consultants initially identified a long list of 14 sites, then shortlisted another seven for more detailed scrutiny.
Following that work, a further shortlist of three sites was identified and their preferred choice was one to the south of Llandeilo.
A site at Llangadog was ruled out by the consultants for various reasons including the fact that it would mean an extra £0.5million per year for school transport, (approximately £7 per household on council tax) as the bulk of the pupil population live in the Llandeilo area of the county.
The results of the feasibility study by the consultants will now form part of the business case Carmarthenshire County Council is preparing for the Welsh Assembly Government, as part of a funding bid for the ambitious developments.
If the Assembly approves the business model, formal consultation will be carried out. If it proceeds the consultation would start around the end of this year.
Carmarthenshire’s education executive board member Cllr Gwynne Wooldridge said: “These feasibility studies are very detailed and technical pieces of work produced by a team of very professional people.
“They are making a significant contribution by ensuring that Carmarthenshire can achieve Welsh Assembly Government expectations with respect to its submission for capital funding.
“This will achieve the county’s vision for the transformation of education in Dinefwr thus ensuring our young people will be attending schools which are fit for the 21st Century.”
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