YG Gŵyr accommodation improvement project
This project is being jointly funded by the Welsh Government's 21st Century Schools and Colleges programme and Swansea Council.
Work is currently progressing to provide a fit for purpose 21st Century learning environment for pupils and staff at Ysgol Gyfun Gŵyr. It is projected that by 2021 there will be insufficient capacity on site to meet the demands of pupils transferring from partner primary schools. Therefore, it is proposed to extend the current buildings footprint to meet demand and address suitability and condition needs at the site.
Benefits of the project include:
- Sufficiency of basic need for Welsh-medium places in the right location.
- Improved sufficiency and quality of the learning environment.
- An improvement in condition and reduction in the current backlog maintenance at the school where appropriate.
- Potential for community use of enhanced external facilities.
Progress update - October 2020
- On 23 January 2020, Cabinet approved the appointment of Kier to undertake the construction and remodelling works.
- Pre-commencement planning conditions approved June 2020.
- Start on site 6 July 2020.
- Turf cutting event 7 July 2020.
- Steel signing by pupils 9 October 2020.
'Sign the steel'
The piling, foundations and the structural steel frame have been completed on the extension at YG Gŵyr.
To celebrate the milestone pupils from the school were asked to 'sign the steel' for posterity and came up with a short poem with the words written on the bones of the building.
Hon a'i Chymraeg sydd annwyl
A hon a'i addysg sydd hwyl
For her the Welsh language is dear
And for her the education is fun.
| Date | Milestone |
|---|---|
| January 2019 | Finalise economic appraisals and remainder of OBC |
| February - March 2019 | Consideration of Outline Business Case (OBC) by WG Business Case Scrutiny Group (BCSG) and Capital Panel |
| November 2018 - May 2019 | Planning application process |
| January 2020 - February 2020 | Consideration of Full Business Case (FBC) by WG Business Case Scrutiny Group (BCSG) and Capital Panel, and report to Cabinet |
| March 2020 | Contract received and signed by Welsh Government |
| March 2020 | Contractor appointed |
| June 2020 | Construction start |
| May 2022 | Construction completion |
Project team
Mr D Jenkins, Headteacher.
Nicola Jones, School Business Case Development Manager.
Jenny Lewis-Jones, Project Support Officer.
Alex Harries, Architectural Project Manager.
Nigel Hawkins, Projects and Procurement Manager.
Community benefits
The council is committed to supporting local firms and creating jobs for local people. During the proposed works the principal contractor will use local suppliers, where possible, for materials and products. Contractors will be encouraged to employ local workers and offer work experience to unemployed young people.
Pupil engagement
STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) engagement will form an integral part of our project. The contractor and council will work together with the school to support learning opportunities throughout the build project.
Community projects
As part of the project the contractor will be expected to support local initiatives in the area. Further details on this will be provided as the project progresses.
Newsletters
The first newsletter was distributed to the local area in June 2020.