Ysgol Bro Alun Officially Opened

Ysgol Bro Alun, Wrexham’s new Welsh Medium Primary School, had its official opening earlier this morning.

The £5.9m school in Gwersyllt was officially opened by the Minister for Education and Skills, Huw Lewis. Ysgol Bro Alun opened to Reception and Nursery pupils in September and serves the north of the county borough.

The school received 70% or £4.1m from the Welsh Government to build the school, and since opening has eased the pressure on its sister school, Ysgol Plas Coch.

Huw Lewis said: “We want all our your people to be educated in vibrant classrooms fit to deliver a modern curriculum. We know the facilities in which young people are taught can have a significant impact on the way they learn. That’s why we are investing significant amounts of capital funding in our schools. It’s a privilege to officially open Ysgol Bro Alun, a modern and sustainable school which will not only serve its Welsh medium learners, but the community as whole.”

Headteacher, Osian Jones, said: “I am delighted to welcome everyone to the official opening of our new school Bro Alun. Staff and Governors are all thrilled with the excellent facilities that are available to our young pupils who have all settled in well and are enjoying their new school.”

The school has been well designed to BREEAM Excellent standard, the leading and most widely used environmental assessment method for buildings. It sets the standard for best practice is sustainable design and has become the industry standard used to describe a building’s environmental performance.

The site has separate pedestrian, vehicle and service access to improve safety and security. Each classroom has direct access to an external play and learning area. The classes are arranged in two single storey wings which also open out internally to an enlarged shared circulation area which houses a Resource Area for ICT and library facilities.

Sustainable features include a Bio Mass central heating boiler, solar panels, high levels of insulation, triple glazing, rainwater harvesting, ecological improvements and a sustainable drainage system and sprinkler system.

It is hoped that 75 per cent of the site will be used for the community.

The school recently received an award for its architectural merit by the Civic Society which recognised its attractive features including terracotta ceramic tile facings and vertical oak boards to the classroom areas, reflective ceramic glass tiles at the main entrance area and ceramic granite tiles to the hall.

Cllr Michael Williams, Lead Member for Children’s Services, said: “We are grateful to the Welsh Government for their support in funding this impressive project which will address the increased demand in recent years for welsh medium education. The school has some wonderful facilities and together with the commitment of staff and governors will help young people achieve their full potential.”