20/6/2024

Pentrych Primary School have celebrated the completion of construction works including the expansion of the existing school building and the official opening its first ever nursery provision.

The new development, undertaken by contractor Knox and Wells, has included a broad scope of works including a new single storey extension housing two classrooms with their own external play/teaching area including canopies, a new nursery with toilets and changing room, teaching kitchen, quiet room and external teaching space with canopies.

A new toilet block, staff office and headteachers office have been delivered, as well as hard and soft landscaping, infiltration basin and rain garden. The new scheme included the demolition of the existing single storey toilet block and double demountable classrooms.

During a special event on Friday 14^th June pupils, parents, staff, governors and members of the community were invited to take part in a range of activities from natural crafts, campfire, traditional and party games as well as every child making a pendant with the new school logo on as a momento and designing and painting a commemorative pebble to be placed in the school's new courtyard area. Guests were given the chance to tour the new school building and view an exhibition of photos of Pentyrch Primary School over time.

Past pupils who left the school last year were invited to join in the celebrations as well as current Year 10 children who missed out on their year 6 celebrations due to Covid.

A whole school picnic lunch with celebration cakes made by the school cook alongside music from a brass quintet, Pendyrus Male Choir, whole school choir and a dance performance from pupils, concluded the celebrations.

Headteacher Sarah Coombes said: "This is a momentous day for Pentyrch Primary School and the village community. The school is on an incredible journey and through the power of collaboration we have now been able to provide a Nursery for the children of Pentyrch along with a school extension to accommodate greater numbers of pupils from the local area. The newly established wrap around care and an after-school provision also provides much needed support for working families.

"After years of planning, we have now been able to realise the dream and we are delighted to officially open our new and vibrant building today. I would like to thank everyone who has made this possible: the Local Authority for enabling access to grant funding; the Consortia for brokering a collaborative partnership with Llanishen Fach Primary School to build capacity to enable improvement and Knox and Wells for building our state-of-the-art facilities often in the most difficult Pentyrch weather conditions!

"My thanks are extended to the Governing Body for their tremendous support and drive to ensure the school's future; the staff who have worked through unimaginable challenges and have gone above and beyond every step of the way; the parents and the community for the ongoing support they show the school and to our wonderful children who have shown huge amounts of resilience, adaptability and patience during the project. We are so pleased to open our new -look school where Pentyrch children can thrive and flourish."

A Cardiff Council spokesperson said: "The completion of works marks an exciting new chapter for Pentych Primary School and pupils, staff and parents are already enjoying the benefits of the new and enhanced facilities provided by the scheme.

"The Cardiff Local Development Plan means that the school can accommodate the increased demand for school places in the area as well as enabling families in Pentyrch to access nursery education with wrap-around childcare, and for the first time can continue with their primary education on the same site.

"The scheme represents almost £3m investment and has been joint funded through capital funding and 106 contributions, supporting Cardiff's commitment to improving education settings and opportunities for all our young people to ensure every child has the best possible start in life."