Plans to build a new £8 million ‘super primary school’ to replace Abertysswg and Pontlottyn primary schools have been given the financial go-ahead by the Welsh Government.
The full business case for the proposal has been approved and an allocation of £8m, of which Welsh Government will contribute £4m has also been agreed.
The new school development will be built on land within the existing Rhymney Comprehensive School site near Abertysswg. A state-of-the-art, single storey development will consist of a primary school, nursery and a Flying Start unit.
The school will also have an “integrated” children’s centre offering childcare provision. This is expected to support Flying Start part-time places, as well as deliver ‘wraparound’ and after-school provision for working parents and to help support economically inactive parents to return to work.
Cllr Derek Havard, Cabinet Member for Education, said: “Pupils across the Caerphilly county borough are benefitting from unprecedented investment to deliver educational facilities that are fit for the 21st Century.
“This latest announcement will see the creation of a modern, fit for purpose school in the heart of the Upper Rhymney Valley.
“We are already seeing the positive results from similar investment in Caerphilly and Oakdale and I’m sure the whole community will join me in welcoming this news.
The new Abertysswg and Pontlottyn Primary School scheme forms part of a wider programme under the Welsh Government’s 21st Century Schools project.
The original plan would have also seen Fochriw Primary School replaced with its pupils heading to the new ‘super school’.
However, Fochriw parents gave the plan the thumbs down during a public consultation on the project.
As a result, the planned new school has been scaled down and Fochriw Primary School will remain.