Help shape the future for Willows High School

14/06/21

An exciting opportunity to help shape the future for Willows High School will launch today, Monday 14, June.

The six week non-statutory engagement process will give pupils, members of the public and local stakeholders the chance to have their say in creating a new vision for the school including its curriculum, rebrand and the development of the new school building.

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Delivered under Cardiff Council and Welsh Governments 21st Century, Band B Schools and Education Investment Programme, proposals for a replacement Willows High School would include;

- building a new school in a new location on Lewis Road, Splott to serve the Adamsdown, Splott and Tremorfa areas

- providing access to high quality local sports facilities

- a community focussed school with facilities available for use by the whole community outside of core school hours.

- enhanced pedestrian facilities to support active travel arrangements on the Lewis Road site

- capacity for 900 places for learners aged 11 to 16, in line with the projected demand

- pupils to remain at the existing Willows High School site until the new school build is complete to minimise the potential for disruption.

The engagement process will provide an opportunity for people to share their ideas on about the benefits and opportunities that are presented by the new school location.

Feedback from the six week engagement will be considered in the development of a new vision for the school, which will outline what should betaught at the school and how it should be delivered, in line with a new curriculum for Wales to be rolled out in 2022. There will be further opportunities to provide views as plans develop.

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Thiswill help the school design a curriculum and school buildings to support its pupils to become ambitious, capable and ready to learn throughout their lives whilst championing healthy, confident individuals, ready to lead fulfilling lives as valued members of society.

Cabinet Member for Education, Employment and Skills, Cllr Sarah Merry said:"Willows High School is about to embark on an exciting chapter and the new build will provide modern state of the art learning facilities, which will inspire and support pupils and staff to reach their potential. But this is not just about bricks and mortar, this is an exciting period for the school to reimagine its future and the way it willtransform the lives of local learners whilst providing opportunities to local people."

"This initial engagement activity offers the chance for people to share how they want the new school to work for the community and help us tounderstand what is important to them and where resources should be invested."

Cllr Merry added: "I would like to encourage people to share their views, in particular children and young people who will play an important role in developing a new vision for the school and will support Cardiff's ambition of becoming a recognised Child Friendly City, where the opinions of children and young people are at the heart of all decision making."

Headteacher at Willows High School, Chris Norman said:"All of us at Willows are extremely excited that the process of creating our new school is underway. It's a once in a lifetime opportunity to create something outstanding that will benefit staff, pupils and the community for years to come.

"We are especially looking forward to building links with many of the leaders in all of the employment sectors who operate in the city to boost the aspirations of our pupils. Cardiff is an amazing city with almost endless possibilities and the majority of them will be within walking distance of our new building.

"We want this school to be at the heart of the community, so please take the time to get involved in the engagement process and make sure your voice is heard."

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To share your views online, please visit:
www.cardiff.gov.uk/willowshighschool

A series of drop in sessions will also be held on the following dates;

- Tuesday 22 June10am - 12 noon Tesco Pengam Green

- Thursday 24 June12 noon - 2pmBrewery Field (opposite Rubicon Dance)

- Wednesday 30 June2pm - 4pm Old Library, Singleton Road

-          Tuesday 06 July6pm - 8pm Splott Park Sports Pavilion

-     Monday 12 July 10am -12 noon Butetown Hub, Plas Iona, Bute St, CF10 5HW

-  Thursday 15 July 4pm - 6pm Butetown Hub, Plas Iona, Bute St, CF10 5HW

The engagement period closes on July 23 2021.