Construction work has started on Neath Port Talbot Council’s planned replacement for the ageing Cefn Saeson Comprehensive School in Cimla, Neath.
Morgan Sindall Construction has begun work on building the £29m school, the work involving the demolition of the existing comprehensive to make way for a new school with modern facilities, car parking (including safe drop-off and pick-up areas), enhanced sports facilities which could be used by the community, external lighting, CCTV and landscaping.
The school, on Afan Valley Road, Cimla, will remain operational while the new-build comprehensive is constructed on the school grounds. The old school will then be demolished to make way for the new sports facilities.
The 900-pupil new comprehensive was commissioned by Neath Port Talbot Council as part of its Strategic School Improvement Programme (SSIP).
The work is being delivered under the Welsh Government’s 21st Century Schools Programme and is among the latest phase (Band B) of the authority’s multi-million pound schools building programme.
The plans include three new access points off Afan Valley Road plus sports provision including a grass pitch, a 3G pitch, a hockey pitch, a multi-use games area and a hard play area. Under the plans, the school would open the sports facilities, and some internal teaching facilities, to the local community outside school core hours.
The new school, on which construction work is due to be completed by early 2022, will have photovoltaic panels to generate electricity, a “breathing building” passive ventilation system in classrooms and its levels of glazing will provide significant improvements in daylight penetration when compared with typical commercial offices.
The school will have 48 state-of-the-art classrooms comprising creative workspaces, art facilities, and SENC (Secondary Education Nurture Centre) facilities available for students with additional learning needs.
Cllr Peter Rees, Cabinet Member for Education, Skills and Culture at Neath Port Talbot Council, said: “Our Strategic Schools Improvement Programme is a real statement of our belief in our children and young people, giving them the best start in life and helping them to be the best they can be.
“Despite the budget pressures we face, the investment in this and many other schools in the County Borough demonstrates our commitment to education, making sure the right schools are in the right place, and that they are fit for 21st Century learners.”
Rob Williams, area director at Morgan Sindall Construction, said: “We are very pleased to be working with Neath Port Talbot Council on such an important investment in its education offering.
“Providing modern schools fit for 21st century education is a key priority for the local authority, and the designs for Cefn Saeson answer that brief perfectly. The school has a rich sporting heritage and the new facilities will leave it well placed to inspire the next generation of promising athletes.”
Construction work is expected to be completed in early 2022.
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Mae gwaith adeiladu wedi dechrau ar yr adeilad a gynlluniwyd i gymryd lle Ysgol Gyfun Cefn Saeson, Cimla, Castell-nedd, sydd wedi heneiddio’n ddrwg.
Dechreuodd Morgan Sindall Construction ar y gwaith o adeiladu’r ysgol werth £29m, wrth iddynt ddymchwel yr ysgol gyfun bresennol i greu lle ar gyfer adeiladu’r ysgol newydd, fydd yn cynnwys cyfleusterau modern, lle i barcio (gan gynnwys ardaloedd diogel i ollwng a chodi plant), cyfleusterau chwaraeon gwell a fydd ar gael at ddefnydd y gymuned os oes galw, goleuadau allanol, camerâu cylch cyfyng, a gwaith harddu’r dirwedd.
Bydd yr ysgol, a leolir ar Heol Dyffryn Afan, Cimla, yn dal i weithredu tra bo’r ysgol gyfun newydd yn cael ei hadeiladu ar diroedd yr ysgol. Wedyn, bydd yr hen adeiladau’n cael eu dymchwel i greu lle ar gyfer y cyfleusterau chwaraeon newydd.
Comisiynwyd yr ysgol gyfun newydd, â lle i 900 o ddisgyblion, gan Gyngor Castell-nedd Port Talbot fel rhan o’r Rhaglen Strategol i Wella Ysgolion (SSIP).
Mae’r gwaith yn cael ei wneud fel rhan o Raglen Ysgolion yr 21ain Ganrif Llywodraeth Cymru, a dyma’r cam diweddaraf (Band B) o raglen adeiladu ysgolion y cyngor, sy’n werth miliynau lawer o bunnoedd.
Mae’r cynlluniau’n cynnwys tri phwynt mynediad newydd oddi ar Heol Dyffryn Afan, ynghyd â darpariaeth chwaraeon fydd yn cynnwys cae chwarae gwair, maes 3G, cae hoci, ardal chwaraeon amlddefnydd ac ardal chwarae ag arwyneb caled. Byddai’r ysgol yn agor y cyfleusterau chwaraeon, a rhai cyfleusterau dysgu mewnol, i’r gymuned leol y tu allan i oriau craidd yr ysgol o dan y cynlluniau newydd.
Ar ôl i’r gwaith adeiladu ddod i ben, erbyn dechrau 2022 gobeithio, bydd gan yr ysgol newydd baneli ffotofoltaig i gynhyrchu trydan, system awyru oddefol ‘adeilad sy’n anadlu’ mewn dosbarthiadau, a bydd y lefel o wydr yn yr adeilad yn rhoi gwelliannau sylweddol o ran faint o olau dydd fydd yn treiddio o’i gymharu â swyddfeydd masnachol arferol.
Bydd gan yr ysgol 48 dosbarth o’r radd flaenaf, fydd yn cynnwys ardaloedd gweithio creadigol, cyfleusterau celf, a chyfleusterau SENC (Canolfan Feithrin Addysg Uwchradd) ar gael i fyfyrwyr ag anghenion dysgu ychwanegol.
Meddai’r Cynghorydd Peter Rees, Aelod Cabinet dros Addysg, Sgiliau a Diwylliant yng Nghyngor Castell-nedd Port Talbot: “Mae ein Rhaglen Strategol i Wella Ysgolion yn ddatganiad cryf o’n cred yn ein plant a’n pobl ifanc, gan roi’r dechrau gorau posib mewn bywyd iddyn nhw a’u helpu i fod cystal ag y gallan nhw fod.
“Er gwaetha’r wasgfa gyllidebol a wynebir gennym, mae’r buddsoddiad yn yr ysgol hon, a sawl un arall yn y Fwrdeistref Sirol, yn dangos ein hymrwymiad i addysg gan sicrhau fod yr ysgolion cywir ar gael yn y lleoliadau cywir, a’u bod yn addas ar gyfer dysgwyr yr 21ain ganrif.”
Meddai Rob Williams, cyfarwyddwr ardal gyda Morgan Sindall Construction: “Rydym ni’n falch iawn o fod yn gweithio gyda Chyngor Castell-nedd Port Talbot ar y fath fuddsoddiad pwysig yn ei arlwy addysgol,.
“Mae darparu ysgolion modern sy’n addas ar gyfer addysg yn yr 21ain ganrif yn flaenoriaeth allweddol i’r awdurdod lleol, ac mae’r cynlluniau ar gyfer Cefn Saeson yn ateb y briff hwnnw i’r dim. Mae gan yr ysgol dreftadaeth chwaraeon gyfoethog, a bydd y cyfleusterau newydd yn ei rhoi mewn lle gwych i ysbrydoli’r genhedlaeth nesaf o athletwyr addawol.”
Disgwylir y bydd y gwaith adeiladu wedi gorffen yn gynnar yn 2022.
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