19 January 2012
Caerphilly County Borough Council last night (Tuesday 17th January) approved plans to progress an ambitious scheme to transform the former St Ilan Comprehensive site in Caerphilly into a new Welsh school.
At the end of last year the Minister for Education and Skills announced that Caerphilly schools are set to receive £92m to fund ambitious plans for education in the area from 2014 to 2021.
However, there is an urgency to provide additional Welsh Medium secondary places with effect from September 2013.
At the meeting last night, Councillors agreed to proceed with Phase 1 of the planned St. Ilan development at an estimated cost of £3.5m. This will allow the admission of Year 7 pupils residing in the Caerphilly basin to St. Ilan with effect from September 2013.
This will form part of an overall strategy to develop a 3-16 campus with many shared facilities on the site, and the opportunity to offer some post-16 provision as well. The existing Fleur de Lys site will be the main 16-19 campus.
Cllr Phil Bevan, Cabinet Member for Education, Leisure and Lifelong Learning said, "This is an ambitious and well thought out plan. We are clearly leading the way in Wales in developing Welsh medium education fit for the 21st century and we now look forward to these plans progressing".
Councillors also approved an additional recommendation put forward by the council's Cabinet last week, to use funds currently set aside so that progress can be made at the earliest opportunity on the St Ilan project.
The tendering process will shortly get underway, with works set to commence on site in April.
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