Welsh Government Cabinet Secretary for Education, Lynne Neagle MS, visited two of Anglesey’s newly built primary schools yesterday (Monday 15 July).
Pupils, staff and guests gathered at Ysgol Corn Hir, Llangefni, and Ysgol Santes Dwynwen, Newborough, provided a warm welcome with a tree planted at each school to mark the visit.
The new Ysgol Corn Hir opened its door last year with funding provided by Isle of Anglesey County Council and Welsh Government’s Sustainable Communities for Learning Programme. Ysgol Santes Dwynwen was opened in 2019, after incorporating a unique design concept linked to the historical Llys Rhosyr site outside the village of Newborough.
Anglesey's Education and Welsh Language portfolio holder, Councillor Dafydd Roberts, said, "We were delighted to welcome the Cabinet Secretary for Education here to Anglesey to see how Welsh Government funding has been put to good use to develop exciting new education projects.”
He added, “We have used this funding to invest in new school buildings which are fit for purpose, in the right place, meet pupils’ needs and are now resources which communities can fully utilise. The new Ysgol Corn Hir and Ysgol Santes Dwynwen are fine examples of what can be achieved. Both schools have brought new infrastructure and facilities, and more importantly a means of ensuring the best education in a fantastic environment for future generations."
Cabinet Secretary for Education, Lynne Neagle MS, said, “It is fantastic to see how Welsh Government investment is benefitting communities in Anglesey through new school buildings. Combined with great teaching and learning, these state-of-the-art facilities can help ensure that our children get the best education possible.”
Over the last decade, the school modernisation agenda on Anglesey has focused on the primary sector - with four major projects completed so far at:
- Ysgol Rhyd-y-Llan, Llanfaethlu
- Ysgol Cybi, Holyhead
- Ysgol Santes Dwynwen, Newborough
- New Ysgol Corn Hir, Llangefni
A project to extend Ysgol y Graig, Llangefni, is also underway and will be completed by September 2024.
By the time this project is completed, the county council will have invested £42.5m to open five brand new schools in four areas (including its first net zero carbon building school building at Ysgol y Graig), updated and expanded a further two schools and closed 12 small schools.
This will mean that around 20% of Anglesey primary school pupils are now taught in environments that are designed to meet the needs of the modern learning landscape.
Ends 16 July 2024