Ysgol Bro Gwuan

This is my view,across the valley, of the secondary school that serves the majority of North Pembrokeshire. Built in the 1950s the buildings have seen better days. The simple fact is that all buildings require routine maintenance and investment to keep them fit for purpose. Although a new tech block was added 10yrs ago the rest of the structure is in a poor state of repair. This has been recognised and a new teaching block is to be built with very little of the existing school remaining . The new school building will be on 3 floors under flat roof and the block will extend from the bottom left of the picture as far as the tallest part of the existing building.  Once construction has finished most of the 1950 building will be demolished.

This investment is long over due and the fact that the work has just started, diggers can be seen bottom left of the picture, means thing are on track for the new school  to be ready in 12 moths time. I shall put progress pictures up as the site develops. 

However, much as this investment is welcomed, schools are about much more than new buildings . The education system in Pembrokeshire is in crisis. A reorganisation has been planned by our County Council for some years but that plan has recently been rejected by the Councillors against the officers recommendation. The Council is so focused on building 21st  century schools, Fishguard being the first of the planned new schools, that they have taken their eyes of the most important part of their role. That is to deliver the best education possible  for each of the children who attend our County schools. Pembrokeshire education service is performing very  poorly against the Welsh average and I cannot see that new buildings alone will improve matters. They will look attractive though.