Pupils move into new school

A new era has begun for a special school in Newtown after pupils and staff moved into their new building this week.

The new school building for Ysgol Robert Owen (formerly Ysgol Cedewain) is the latest project that has been completed by Powys County Council under its Transforming Education Programme.

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As part of the programme, the council has already built one new high school and 10 primary schools and also carried out remodelling works at a primary and a high school.

The brand-new building has been built for pupils with additional learning needs by Wynne Construction on behalf of the council. 75% of the £22m funding for the project is being provided by the Welsh Government’s Sustainable Communities for Learning Programme, with the remaining 25% of funding being provided by the council.

The state-of-the-art new building has replaced the very poor accommodation at the school’s current building, and includes facilities for very vulnerable learners, including a hydrotherapy pool, sensory and physiotherapy rooms and garden as well as a community café.

Outdoor sports facilities will now be developed on the grounds on the site of the former school buildings now they have been vacated.

Staff are now able to teach in a learning environment that is fit-for-purpose, and for parents they have confidence that their children are being supported within the best facilities and accommodation.

Cllr Pete Roberts, Cabinet Member for a Learning Powys, said:

“I’m delighted that pupils and staff of Ysgol Robert Owen have moved into their fantastic new school building.

“I would like to thank the school community for their patience while this facility was being built. I would also like to acknowledge the school’s input into this scheme to ensure that it was built to minimise the design impact on pupils.

“This project has seen the council provide a world-class facility for the county’s most vulnerable learners.

“This new building is an important part of our Strategy to Transform Education in Powys and will provide an environment where teaching staff and thrive and give vulnerable learners the facilities that meets their needs, they benefit from and enables them to enjoy learning.”

Pupils and staff were supposed to move into the new building in January 2024, but due due to delays in construction have had to wait until September. Work started on the new school in July 2022.