Bridgend Council has shortlisted a site for a proposed Welsh-medium “seedling school” in Porthcawl (pdf).
The previously suggested site was land at Sandy Bay near Newton Primary School – which would form part of a housing-led project there as part of the town’s regeneration programme. However, this site has now been discounted due to poor road access.
A total of 19 sites were included on the “long list” (pdf), including the current Hillsboro Place car park, the current tourist information centre/former police station, the former Dunraven flats on Eastern Promenade and West Park Primary School.
In the end, officers have shortlisted land at Porthcawl Primary School. The seedling school would be built at the opposite end of the existing school buildings, with a new all-weather sports pitch provided between the two.
There are also a few extra details on how the seedling school would operate. The report says it would start as satellite nursery and reception classes of North Cornelly-based Ysgol Y Ferch o’r Sger, with a total of 30 nursery spaces, 30 reception spaces and 16 full-time (32 part-time) childcare places.
Pupils would then transfer to Ysgol Y Ferch o’r Sger in Year 1 until (at some point) a full Welsh-medium primary school can be established in Porthcawl.
Subject to Welsh Government approval etc., the council hopes the seedling school will open by January 2025.
