Works starts on new state-of-the-art facilities for Llanelli’s St John Lloyd School

Work has started on new state-of-the-art facilities for Llanelli’s St John Lloyd Catholic School.
Carmarthenshire County Council joined school representatives to cut the first sod at the site earlier this week.
Phase one, due for completion by September 2017, will include a new science block, PE changing rooms and extended music facilities.
Phase two will provide brand new classrooms for design technology, maths and art, plus a new outdoor multi-use games area.
It will also include a specialist catering training facility - the latest phase of Llanelli’s new Vocational Village – which will boast high-class food preparation facilities and a small training restaurant.
The new block has been designed by apprentice draughtsman Corey Borthwick, an 18-year-old ex-pupil of the school currently employed by Cross Hands firm Shufflebottom Ltd, which is working on the design on behalf of the contractor, TAD Builders of Llanelli.
The development is being delivered through the Carmarthenshire County Council’s Modernising Education Programme, with part funding through the Welsh Government’s 21st Century Schools initiative.
St John Lloyd Headteacher Ashley Howells, said: “This marks the start of an exciting new phase for the school. These new facilities will ensure both our current and future learners will have the best possible environment in which to achieve their potential in the future.
“The school is very grateful for the support provided by Carmarthenshire County Council in helping to secure 85 per cent of the funding for this scheme as part of the Welsh Government 21st Century Schools programme.”
The catering training centre at St John Lloyd is one of five elements to make up Llanelli’s Vocational Village, which also includes a recently launched construction centre at nearby Bryngwyn School; a music technology centre within Coedcae School; a performing arts and media facility at Ysgol Y Strade; and a caring and child care facility at Ysgol Glan y Môr.
An automotive engineering facility at Coleg Sir Gar’s Graig campus is also being used by secondary school pupils as part of the plan.
Pupils will be able to attend any of the five elements that make up the village, regardless of which school they attend, creating a person-centred approach to vocational learning.
Cllr Gareth Jones, Carmarthenshire County Council’s Executive Board Member for education, said: “Just days after launching our new construction skills centre, we were thrilled to be on site ready to start this new extension and specialist catering training facility at St John Lloyd.
“It was a pleasure to see how excited the school is about the learning environment this development will offer secondary school age children in the Llanelli area.”