CONSTRUCTION work has started on Dyffryn Cledlyn Voluntary Controlled Primary School – the new area school based in Drefach.

The project has been developed over the last three years and the school will be built on a site in Drefach adjacent to the main A475 road from Lampeter to Llandysul.

Llanwnnen, Llanwenog and Cwrtnewydd schools, which currently share one headteacher, will close in summer 2017 and will be replaced by the new school.

The new purpose-built area school is funded by Ceredigion County Council. It is also designed and project managed by the council’s architectural team and in-house consultants, and constructed by Andrew Scott Ltd.

The school will be approximately 1,300 square metres in area, and all on a single ground floor level, with external hard play and primary sports pitches.

The new school is designed to achieve a ‘very good’ BREEAM (Building Research Establishing Environmental Assessment Method) rating for sustainability and environmental performance, and includes initiatives to maximise natural ventilation and utilise a sprinkler system, sustainable drainage and rainwater harvesting.

Cllr Hag Harris, Cabinet member with responsibility for learning services, children and young people’s partnership, said: “The unique selling point of this building is to provide 21st century school educational facilities in fit-for-purpose acc­ommodation that will be accessible and appropriate for the local communities around Drefach.”

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