City school's upgrade starting

£22million development will transform comprehensive

Work has started on the £22million upgrade of Morriston Comprehensive School.

The Council’s contractor, Carillion, has gone on  site to start a two and a half year scheme to provide the school with excellent new facilities within striking energy-efficient buildings.

The project is funded by a £15.4million grant from the Welsh Government, with the remaining funds coming from Swansea Council.

William Evans, the Council’s Cabinet member for Learning and Skills, said: "I am delighted that site set up and pre-construction activities have begun on this project to give Morriston a school fit for the 21st century.

"The Morriston Comprehensive upgrade is a significant investment in our children and our city’s future. It is one of the major projects in the Council's drive to raise standards and improve educational environments in the city.

"Officers  will be working closely with the school, contractors and the local community to keep the school open throughout and minimise inconvenience to residents.”

Sandra Joy, acting head teacher, said pupils, students and staff, who have all had the chance to have a say on the plans, were delighted to see contractors on site ahead of the building works.

She said: "This scheme will give the young people of Morriston the opportunity to be educated in a first class learning environment, allowing them to access a 21st century curriculum and facilities which will enable them to reach their full potential.

"We will be working closely with the local authority and contractors to continue to provide quality education safely at the site throughout the work programme.”

Morriston Comprehensive currently exists in largely unsuitable, inefficient buildings.

The new school’s striking design features will include a flexible space at the heart of the school featuring an inspiring entrance and landscaped court yard.

There will be an open atrium in the dining hall and a functional main hall with retractable seating and audio visual facilities to make staging professional standard productions a possibility.

Teaching facilities will be grouped together to allow greater departmental interaction. There will be new facilities for hairdressing, construction, catering, drama and music.

Energy efficiency is built into the design including solar panels, solar glazing, and rainwater harvesting as well as flow controls on taps and sensors in classrooms to ensure lights are only on when rooms are occupied.

The Contractor will be providing regular  newsletters to keep residents and parents up to date with the work being carried out and a meeting for residents and parents to find out more about the project was held on Tuesday, July 17.

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