Parents pinching themselves as new Welsh language school finally gets green light
Parents in Cardiff campaigning for a new Welsh-medium school serving Grangetown and Butetown say they are having to pinch themselves now that plans are finally going ahead.
Campaign group Ymgyrch TAG, set up by parents in the area to remind Cardiff council of its obligation to provide “local schools for local children”, said Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg Hamadryad had been a long time coming.
The new two-form entry school will be built on land adjacent to the old Royal Hamadryad Hospital in Butetown and will initially open with 30 places from September in temporary accommodation adjacent to Ninian Park Primary School in Grangetown.
It will transfer to its permanent site a year later and the new build is expected to cost £8.3m, with £2m having been set aside to buy land in Hamadryad Road from Cardiff Community Housing Association (CCHA).
Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg Hamadryad will have space for 420 pupils aged three to 11 and its development marks the end of a long campaign to provide Welsh-medium education in the area.
Tale of woe and frustration
Huw Williams, secretary of Ymgyrch TAG, said: “From the outset this has been about securing equality of educational opportunity for all parents and children in this part of the city.
“During the tail-end of the last decade Cardiff saw a flowering of Welsh-medium education across the city and it is only right that parents from all backgrounds should have the same access and opportunities as others.
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“This is especially so when you consider the unique nature of our communities and the relative lack of wealth and resources.”
The planned opening of Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg Hamadryad represents a happy ending for what has at times been a tale of woe and frustration for parents and campaigners in Grangetown and Butetown.
Welsh Government funding for the project was approved as far back as 2011 but the emergence of controversial plans to enlarge Ysgol Gymraeg Pwll Coch, in Leckwith , triggered concerns that plans for a new school would be shelved.
Most multicultural wards in Wales
Mr Williams, who lives in Grangetown, said: “Sometimes I have to pinch myself.
“It has been such a long time coming; to finally see the doors opening for our school in September will be a very emotional moment and also a significant one for the Welsh language.
“I honestly believe we cannot underestimate the importance of establishing a Welsh-medium school at the heart of the most multicultural wards in Wales.
“It embodies the most important message of all – that the Welsh language really is for everyone.
“In this respect it will be the responsibility of the new head teacher and the board of governors to ensure that over the coming years the school comes to truly reflect the communities it serves.”
Dream come true
Branwen Gwyn, vice-chairwoman of Ymgyrch TAG, said: “As a Cardiff girl, born and bred, it gives me great pleasure to see a Welsh-medium school being established in our community within walking distance for the majority of parents.
“Like many others as a child I always faced at least a half-hour bus journey to get to the nearest Welsh-medium school so it’s great to see Grangetown and Butetown emulating other areas and having a school of its own.
“To have a Welsh-medium school for my daughter on the doorstep is like a dream come true.”
• An open morning for parents to see the temporary facilities next to Ninian Park Primary School will be held on Saturday from 10am until noon.
