Expanded new build proposals will ensure no pupil is left behind

07 June 2023

Exciting plans for a replacement primary school in north Powys could be changed so that more pupils can attend and benefit from the new facilities, the county council has said.

Powys County Council is looking to build a replacement building for Newtown's Ysgol Calon y Dderwen, which opened in September 2021 following the merger of Ladywell Green Infants School and Hafren Junior School.

The new building is being designed as a community-focused school to ensure that pupils can benefit from a learning environment that will enable them to flourish and meet their full potential. It is being developed adjacent to the North Powys Health and Well-being Campus, which will enable health and wellbeing services to be closely linked with the school.

However, the council is now considering increasing the size of the building so that more pupils can attend and benefit from the new facilities that will better support the delivery of the new Curriculum for Wales.

The change could see the council developing a community-focused school to serve a wider community, which could include all pupils currently attending Maesyrhandir and Treowen as well as Ysgol Calon y Dderwen.

Cllr Pete Roberts, Cabinet Member for a Learning Powys, said: "We want to provide a learning environment where pupils flourish and meet their full potential and where staff can teach in facilities that support the delivery of the new Curriculum for Wales.

"I'm keen to ensure that as many pupils as possible benefit from the fantastic new facilities that will be provided at the new school building in Newtown. To achieve this, we are considering increasing the size of the new building so all pupils currently in English-medium schools south of the river can attend.

"However, we are at a very early stage in exploring these ideas. To help us understand what the impact of any changes to these schools might be, we have started discussions with the three school communities to understand areas of concern or local issues that we need to be aware of.

"We will be meeting with staff and governors at the three schools as we explore this plan and we will provide an opportunity for parents and the wider community to let us know their views.

"Our aim is to ensure that pupils in Newtown can continue to receive a high-quality education for many years to come and to ensure that as many pupils as possible can benefit from the significant financial investment that is planned for the town with no pupil south of the river left behind just because of where they live.

"I look forward to working with the three school communities to identify a way forward which will achieve this."