St Mellons Church in Wales Primary School has celebrated the official opening of its brand new £6m school building during a special event in the presence of Cardiff Council Leader, Cllr Huw Thomas and Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Education, Cllr Sarah Merry.
The new school issituated at the St Edeyrns development east of the Pontprennau link roadand opened its doors to pupils for the first time in September after relocatingfrom its former site inLlanrumney.
Delivered as part of Cardiff’s Local Development Plan (LDP) by Halsall Construction on behalf of Persimmon Homes, the new school is 1 form entry, accommodating 210 pupils including a 48 place part-time nursery with the opportunity to expand to a 2 form entry (420 place) in the future. There is a community facility linked to the school with private entrance and interconnecting entrance providing benefits to the wider community.
“Headteacher Jane Marchesi said:“Everyone at St Mellons CIW Primary is very excited to celebrate this new chapter in the school’s history, building on a foundation of many happy memories of school life in Llanrumney and Old St Mellons. We are excited aboutall the opportunities our fantastic new facilities will offer our pupils, families and the local community.
“It is a privilege to be a key facility at the heart of this great community and we are looking forward to welcoming all to our school family. We want pupils, staff, families and community to feel that this is their building, a home where the community family can meet, learn, support each other and flourish.”
Serving parts of Pontprennau and Old St Mellons, the school has been relocated aspart of astrategic solution to rebalance primary school provision in parts of North East Cardiffdue to the issue ofsurplus primary school places in the Llanrumney area, and the need for additional places in Old St Mellons and parts of Pontprennau, when the St Edeyrn’s housing development is complete.
Cardiff Council’s Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Education, Cllr Sarah Merry said: “I have been delighted to attend the official opening of St Mellons CiW Primary School which since the start of the new school year in September, has embarked on an exciting new chapter, establishing itself as an asset at the heart of its community.
“The school provides staff and pupils with a modern, efficient and inspiring learning environment and in addition, the community facilities at the school provides localfamilies and residentswith access a range of opportunities.
“I look forward to seeing first-hand how this lovely new school building in its new location, will grow and help meet the increase in demand for school places for children from Old St Mellons, Pontprennau, Llanrumney and those living in the St Edeyrns development.”
Richard Summers, Commercial Director of Persimmon Homes East Wales, said: “Persimmon Homes East Wales is delighted to have delivered the new school in St Edeyrns as part of our commitment to leaving a positive and lasting legacy where we build.
“It was a pleasure to see so many local dignitaries and stakeholders attend the school opening and to observe the positive effects it is already bringing to the local community.
“St Mellons CiW Primary will provide educational opportunities for generations to come, and Persimmon is proud to have played our part working with key partners to deliver the new school at St Edeyrns.”
St Edeyrns is a development in the North East of the city as part of Cardiff’s Local Development Plan (LDP), which sets out the infrastructure required to facilitate and sustain the city’s growth up to 2026.
The school has been as part of the planning agreement with the Council, and part funded through Section 106 contributions.
