Turf cutting ceremony marks start of construction on new Sennybridge school
21 May 2026
The ceremony, held on Wednesday 13 May, celebrated the beginning of a major investment in local education, bringing years of planning to life and signalling the start of work on facilities designed to support pupils, staff and families for generations to come.
The project is being delivered by Powys County Council and its appointed contractor Kier, thanks to Welsh Government funding through its Sustainable Communities for Learning Programme.
The Welsh Government is funding 65% of the £9.6m construction costs, and an additional £500,000 to support Net Zero Carbon elements of the build. The remaining 35% of construction costs are being funded by the Council.
Pupils and staff from Sennybridge C.P. School along with representatives from the council and Kier Construction attended the turf-cutting ceremony, which marked the formal start of the main construction works.
The project will deliver a new 120 place primary school, replacing the existing building with modern, energy efficient and fit for purpose facilities. The new school will support high quality teaching and learning from the Foundation Phase through to the end of Key Stage 2, with early years childcare provision co located on the same site to strengthen local provision for families.
Designed with sustainability and wellbeing at its heart, the new building will provide an inspiring learning environment that supports pupil development, improves educational outcomes and significantly reduces environmental impact.
The investment forms a key part of the council's Strategy for Transforming Education in Powys and directly supports its ambition for a Stronger, Fairer, Greener Powys by creating a modern, inclusive and future focused learning environment.
Cllr James Gibson Watt, Cabinet Member for a Learning Powys, said: "This was a proud and exciting moment for the whole school community. The turf‑cutting ceremony marks the start of a project that will make a real and lasting difference to children growing up in the area.
"Delivering modern, high‑quality learning environments like this is a central part of our Strategy for Transforming Education in Powys. The new school will provide inspiring spaces that support teaching, learning and pupil wellbeing, while also meeting our commitment to sustainability through energy‑efficient, future‑focused design.
"This investment reflects our wider ambition for a Stronger, Fairer, Greener Powys - creating a school that supports educational excellence, promotes equality of opportunity and reduces environmental impact for generations to come."
Mrs Keri Lynne Harry, Headteacher of Sennybridge C.P. School, said: "This is a hugely exciting moment for our school and the whole Sennybridge community. Seeing work begin on our new school marks the start of a bright new chapter for our children, families and future generations.
"For many years, our current school has been at the heart of the community, creating memories and supporting generations of pupils. This new building will build on that proud history by providing a modern, inspiring and inclusive environment where every child can feel valued, supported and encouraged to achieve their full potential.
"Our children deserve the very best opportunities to learn, grow and thrive, and these fantastic new facilities will help us create an environment that reflects those ambitions. The focus on wellbeing, sustainability and high-quality learning will benefit not only our pupils, but the wider community for years to come.
"We are incredibly grateful to Powys County Council, the Welsh Government and Kier for their support and investment in the future of Sennybridge. We cannot wait to see our pupils walk through the doors of a school that has been designed with their futures at its heart."
Ian Rees, regional director for Kier Construction Western & Wales, said: "This project represents a significant investment in the future of education in Sennybridge, and we are proud to be playing our part in bringing it to life.
"Working with Powys County Council and Sennybridge C.P. School, we're delivering a modern, sustainable building that will create bright, energy-efficient spaces to support learning for generations to come.
"The turf-cutting ceremony marks a key milestone in the project and we are looking forward to progressing the construction on site over the coming months."
More information on the council's Strategy for Transforming Education can be found at: Transforming Education
Photo: Learners and staff from Sennybridge C.P. School are joined by representatives from Powys County Council Kier as the turf‑cutting ceremony marked the official start of construction on a new school building for Sennybridge C.P. School.
