State of the art school for Abergwynfi

20.01.2006

Plans have been unveiled by Neath Port Talbot Council for the brand new state of the art school at Abergwynfi in the Afan Valley.



The new school will be built on the site of the old junior school. It will have seven classrooms, support rooms, an IT suite, libraries and a separate nursery area.

The cost of the new school will be around 4million, the majority coming from the Welsh Assembly.

The plans are currently out for consultation with parents, governors and teachers.

The new school will be energy efficient and will meet the highest standards in environmental design.

The hall and community classrooms form the core of the building and these will be suitable for after hours use as this can be closed off from the remaining school area.

The hall can be used for school and community use. The classrooms, called 'pods' are circular in shape and will hold class sizes of 30. They will be designed to let in natural light and fresh air and will minimise the effect of solar glare on teachers and children as they work.

Work will start in the spring next year and the school will be ready to take in its first pupils in the autumn of 2008.

Leader of Neath Port Talbot Council, Derek Vaughan, said, "This significant development proposal in the Afan Valley is a tangible signal of Neath Port Talbot's commitment to its Valley communities and to ensuring the best start in life for the children in those communities to fulfil their educational potential.

"Education is a key part of the council's valley strategy. Neath Port Talbot is following a policy of non closure of schools and is looking towards amalgamation and federalisation of schools as a way of keeping schools open."

http://www.npt.gov.uk/default.aspx?page=2482&pr_id=1787

Nowhere for the dunce to stand in classroom without corners

By Daily Mail Reporter
Last updated at 11:47 AM on 28th January 2009

It's one school where teachers will not be able to send dunces to stand in the corner - because every classroom is round.

All eight classrooms at the 'revolutionary' new school are built on a circular plan.

Teachers will stand in the middle with pupils sitting in a circle all around them.

And instead of a old-fashioned blackboard, a projector will bounce words and pictures onto the classroom walls.

The £4million school, tipped as the shape of things to come, is being built in the former mining village of Abergwynfi, near Neath, South Wales.

Teachers and architects believe the 'pod classroom' will be a big success - and a far cry from the traditional Victorian village schools that were built across Britain more than 100 years ago.

Education chiefs say the 360-degree classrooms will give pupils a new learning experience and no chance to duck behind their desks in the back row.

Neath Port Talbot Council spokesman Gareth Nutt said: 'The teacher is in the centre of the classroom in amongst the pupils.

'No-one is at the back of the class and no-one is at the front. It's all-inclusive'.

The cluster of classrooms, all grouped around a circular main building, makes it look as if a flight of UFOs has landed in the village.

Hi-tech features include windows which open and close automatically depending on the temperature.
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Complete articles with photographs and comments here:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1130248/Nowhere-dunce-stand-classroom-corners.html