Head teacher's delight over £15 million grant to revitalise city school
PUPILS can look forward to state-of-the-art education after plans for a £21 million revamp of a city school were unveiled.
Swansea Council has landed a £15 million Welsh Assembly grant, which it says will revitalise Morriston Comprehensive School and make it fit for the 21st Century.
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An artists impression of the new look Morriston Comprehensive
The funding means that the building work on the project, which is part-funded by the council, will kick off next year.
Wayne Newton, head teacher at the 1,100-pupil school, said he was thrilled by the news.
"Everyone at and associated with the school is absolutely delighted that we are going to get this funding," he said. "It is a considerable sum and will make a dramatic difference.
"It will give the young people of Morriston the opportunity to be educated in first-class facilities, allowing them to access a 21st Century curriculum and facilities which will enable them to reach their full potential.
"It builds upon the new science block which was opened a couple of years ago."
Some of the key features include a new library and learning resource centre, as well as a central courtyard that will link the school together, including dining and informal social areas.
Study
Mr Newton added: "We are now very much looking forward to the next exciting stages in the project. We will be listening to the views of everyone from pupils, staff and governors to parents and the community as we take the project forward.
"A feasibility study has already been completed, and we are now ready and waiting for work to begin. We could not have reached this stage without the tremendous amount of work undertaken by officers of Swansea Council."
Building work will take around two years to complete and will involve the rebuilding of some existing substandard blocks and the refurbishing and remodelling of others.
The bid to the Welsh Assembly Government was prioritised due to the significant backlog of maintenance requirements at the school that have resulted in a major business continuity risk.
Swansea Council Cabinet Member for Education Mike Day said it was the biggest grant for a single school improvement there had ever been in Swansea.
"This is a terrific result for Morriston, the communities of East Swansea and the authority's QEd 2020 programme," he said.
"Children come first in Swansea, and the Welsh Assembly Government's backing for the revitalisation of Morriston comprehensive is hugely welcome.
"I also see it as an endorsement of the way the council is managing the issues around the backlog of maintenance at our schools.
"It's well-known that children and young people's learning environment has an impact on their performance, so this announcement is a major investment in our children's futures — and the city's future, too."
emma.j.jones@swwmedia.co.uk
18 Comments
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by Del, Swansea
Wednesday, July 21 2010, 11:49AM
“You have no idea about welsh medium schools and really should get your facts right before making comments. What do you know about YGG Lon Las? And as for the ratio of welsh school to English. You are not comparing the correct catchment area therefore you would find that there are many more English schools to welsh for example you did not include the following primary schools Brichgrove, Blaenymaes, Clase, Cwmrhydycairw, Glyncollen, Gwyrosydd, Llangyfelach, Manselton and Morriston!!!!!!!”
by roy.adams, dunvant
Friday, July 16 2010, 5:12PM
“I certainly support Dai's comments--It is essential that many of our schools need vast financial investment into maintenance--to make them fit for purpose. I know for instant that Manselton Primary have for many years had troubles with a leaky roof, and need urgent work required to the building.”
by Robodragon, pontardawe
Friday, July 16 2010, 12:52PM
“Paul Lloyd, Bonymaen Labour Party says (2 can play at that) "the council is closing schools all over Swansea. Think how demoralising it is for pupils & staff! " Nice to see th eLabour party critising Councils for closing schools.
Hang on isn't the Labour Party closing schools in Neath Port Talbot Council.
I assume you'll also be critising them as well, or is this just another two faced Labour Party comment?”
by dai evans, swansea
Friday, July 16 2010, 9:41AM
“I agree it is good news that "The Welsh Assembly" is at last finding the finance to invest in our schools. Now the next step forward and urgently required is to invest finance into the up keep in the maintenance of many of our Swansea schools.”
by roy.adams, dunvant
Thursday, July 15 2010, 10:01PM
“Congratulations Morriston Comp--and all the very best for the future--Great News-- about time something positive was achieved for the education of Swansea,s children
I notice Mike Day soon jumped on the bandwagon-- speaks pretty words but with very little substance--Was this not the same Mike Day who voted to reduce the education budget to schools of over £6 Million back in March 2010 alongside his other lib/dem councillors-against the advice of Swansea Headteachers--Perhaps it is The Welsh Assembly we should thank for this financial input. As some of these comments indicate--Not everyone of us have come down with the last shower.”
by adrian, morriston
Thursday, July 15 2010, 7:33PM
“i never thought ide hear mike day saying "children come first in swansea"!! Didnt he mean money instead of the word children?”
by adrian, morriston
Thursday, July 15 2010, 7:00PM
“well said tony. there will be no point in doing up morriston comp if there are no english medium taught children left. This present swansea council are ruining education in the area ans we need to do something. perhaps a start will be to vote them all out at the next election”
by tony, morriston
Thursday, July 15 2010, 6:58PM
“heather i havnt got a problem with welsh education if it was a level playing field but its not. All the children of graig are going to be moved to Pentrepoeth to 30 a class and penned in a school thats not large enough to accomadate them. then the welsh medium will be moved into graig at only 15 a class. in fact only 15 in the whole school in the first year and 15 in the next year. Is that fair? and all at a cost of over £1 mill until the school is full. There are 2 other schools within 2 miles so there will be 3 welsh schools in morriston with english medium schools being shut everywhere. the standards in the english schools will be dropping while the welsh schools will get better cos of the funding. you will be forced to put your children in a welsh school just to get a good education. there should be proper choice for parents so lets have a level playing field. keep graig and pentrepoeth schools open and save english medium schools in morriston”
by PHIL, trallwn
Thursday, July 15 2010, 6:20PM
“just to get 21 million from various sources in this economic climate is amazing.
we can all think of projects the money could be spent on.however this money had been allocated for similar projects.someone in swansea city council ,has put an awful amount of time ,effort in an attempt to grab as much as humanly possible to see this project and rebuild through.
i would like to thank the person or persons responsible for getting this money, and she or he deserves our utmost thanks.”
by Cheesed off parent, Mud Hut
Thursday, July 15 2010, 6:17PM
“Heather, you have no idea do you! It's not as simple as a lick of paint, if it was 'cosmetic' this would not be an issue, it's a far bigger problem than that!
Also ABC my 'Kiddie Winkies' are very well taught by staff working in diabolical conditions!”