Following on from yesterday’s post on how some capital projects in Bridgend county have been pushed back, there’s a further update on plans for two new build schools in North Cornelly (pdf).
Afon-y-Felin (English-medium) Primary, Corneli Primary (English-medium) and Ysgol y Ferch o’r Sger (Welsh-medium) schools are set to be replaced by two separate new-build schools.
The original proposal was for the replacement English-medium school to open in September 2023, with the enlarged Ysgol y Ferch o’r Sger opening a year later in 2024.
The schools are to be built under the Mutual Investment Model (MIM) – explained in more detail here – which is a form of public borrowing similar to PFI.
Welsh Government’s appointed MIM manager, Gleeds, has reexamined the North Cornelly project and presented two options:
- Option A – Both schools are constructed at the same time, with work starting by June 2023. Both schools would open in September 2024.
- Option B – The English-medium school is constructed first, opening in September 2024, with the new Welsh-medium school’s opening delayed until summer term 2026.
Officers have recommended Option A – both schools being constructed at the same time – though this will result in a one-year delay to the opening of the replacement for Afon-y-Felin and Corneli primaries. This still needs Cabinet approval, but that should be a formality.
The governing bodies of all three schools have been informed of the change to the timetable and are supportive (pdf).
