Penyrheol Comprehensive School

A brand new replacement building at Penyrheol Comprehensive School will be completed during the 2008/09 academic year.

Within the existing school boundary a new main building is proposed to replace the original teaching block destroyed by fire.  This facility will provide a focal point for the school and wider community.  You can click here for the School's location.

The new building is located to take advantage of existing access routes, and will allow pupils and staff to enter the building via a 3-storey foyer that leads into a 'top lit' 3-storey street.  From here, all teaching and administration spaces are accessed.

The proposed school is organised into 3 wings.  All general teaching spaces have been given a northerly aspect to avoid heat gain issues whilst the art and library spaces take advantage of the southerly aspect and are located at second floor level to enjoy the panoramic views.

Click on the following link for more visuals.

The building creates a 'state of the art' learning environment, including a new design technology centre, science, art, IT and music suites and a new library.  The new dining hall forms the major part of the building and, combined with the library, presents the front elevation to all visitors.  The building is topped by a pitched roof whose eaves vary in depth to provide deep shaded areas.  The large overhangs are supported on a series of splayed twin columns (which also act as rainwater downpipes).  The north end of the front elevation is a two storey form which breaks down the scale of the building and houses the design technology and administration areas.

The scheme has been reviewed with the local Architectural Liaison Officer who has met with the design team and advised on how best to meet the criteria for Secured by Design accreditation.  This review has taken into account the key security issues including perimeter fencing, access points, natural surveillance, material specification, CCTV requirements and external lighting.  The building has been designed with robust materials at low level (brickwork and render) and there are no climbable features between ground level and the first 3m of the building.

The design aims to achieve a BREEAM 'Very Good' rating and will contain a number of 'green' features to create a sustainable and energy efficient learning environment, for example:

• natural, passive stack ventilation to all the main teaching spaces;
• solar panels;
• photovoltaic panels;
• rainwater harvesting facilities to reduce demand for mains water.

The proposals for Penyrheol Comprehensive School aim to dramatically improve the existing learning environment by providing a light, easily accessible facility that signals a new start for the school.

Internal Areas:

• 4 Design/Technology rooms
• 3 Art rooms
• 3 IT rooms
• 7 Science rooms plus preparation room
• 2 Music rooms, 4 practice rooms, 1 recording studio
• 13 General teaching rooms
• Appropriate storage spaces for all curriculum areas
• 3 Faculty work rooms
• Library/Resource room
• 1 Staff room
• 10 Senior staff/year heads offices
• 1 Conference room
• 1 Kitchen
• 1 Dining hall
• Appropriate circulation areas
• 40 Toilets (staff and pupil)
• 1 Reprographics room
• General office space (inc. medical room)
• Reception/foyer
• 1 Site office
• 1 Central store room
• Cleaners cupboards
• Communications/Server rooms
• ICT Technician room 
• Switch/plant rooms
• Specialist Teaching Facility (STF) - subject to successful consultation

External Areas:

• Bin storage area
• Extensive hard play areas
• Appropriate playground/informal areas eg. picnic benching
• Outdoor classroom amphitheatre
• Appropriate signage and access arrangements.

This page will be regularly updated as the project progresses.

Further Information

Communications As the project evolves there will be more and more information that we will need to share with stakeholders and the wider public.	Environmental Issues The design and build of the new school ensures that environmental issues play a key role in the lives of pupils and staff at Penyrheol.
Latest News April 2008 - Penyrheol foundations laid	Penyrheol - History In the early hours of Saturday 18th March 2006, a major part of Penyrheol Comprehensive School was destroyed by fire.
Penyrheol Leisure Centre Open for business as usual!	Progress Update Here you will find monthly updates relating to site progress.
Project Timeline Here you will find the project timeline, which aims to catalogue key target dates.	Visuals Construction is scheduled to begin this year.
Who's Who? Introducing the people who are making it happen......

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This page was last updated on 12 March 2008