Pupils and staff ‘go batty’ for new WRW Welsh medium primary school in Gwent

Pupils and staff saw for themselves how their brand new primary school building in Nantyglo is taking shape when they visited the site to help set up bird and bat nesting boxes.



Ysgol Gymraeg Bro Helyg will replace Ysgol Gymraeg Brynmawr and provide Welsh medium education for up to 360 children from across Blaenau Gwent.

WRW Construction – who built the school – have donated the bat and bird boxes to the pupils to help encourage wildlife to the area and help them with their environmental studies.

Ffion Hopkins, Keira Gravell, James Robins and Rhys Beynon chose where the new bat and bird boxes are going to be sited – helped by WRW Site Manager Keith Pritchard.

Headteacher Dilys Williams said:

“The new school building looks absolutely fantastic. It has a real wow factor – we can’t wait to move in next term.
“The surroundings are wonderful, it feels like you’re in the middle of the country. The facilities for pupils and staff are going to be first class and the school is going to have a real community feel.
“Our pupils are heavily involved with the Blaenau Gwent National Eisteddfod this summer and we’re looking forward to that – this is a really exciting time for us.”

Robert Williams, Managing Director of WRW Construction said:

"As a company we are always keen to work with clients on our building projects and add value wherever we can. Our work in the schools sector provides a good opportunity for such community initiatives and I am pleased that our Senior Site Manager Andrew Collins was able to incorporate this environmental project into the scheme and provide a future learning facility for pupils."

The new school – designed and delivered in partnership by Blaenau Gwent Council - is one of the very first in Wales to be built to the latest environmental and energy efficient standards. Staff and pupils will move in next term (September 2010).
Pupil Alex Hoey won a competition to name the school. His choice Ysgol Gymraeg Bro Helyg comes from the original name for the Brynmawr area – Gwaun Helygen (‘Meadow of the Willows’) and ‘Bro’, meaning area in Welsh.

Coun Des Hillman, Leader of Blaenau Gwent Council, said:

“Everyone is pleased to see the progress being made in building the new school and congratulations to the pupils for joining in this WRW initiated wildlife project on the site.”

Blaenau Gwent Council architect Jim Allen drew up the design for the school. Features include 13 classrooms, two IT suites, school hall and playing fields, covered outdoor learning areas, solar hot water panels, energy saving controls, recycled and responsibly sourced materials, passive environmental design maximising natural lighting and ventilation, sustainable urban drainage scheme and super-insulation.