The First Minster of Wales, the Rt Hon Carwyn Jones, today met with pupils at Ebbw Fawr Learning Community in Blaenau Gwent as part of an official opening event.
The school is split over two neighbouring sites on the former steelworks site in Ebbw Vale, but both secondary and primary school pupils were on hand to give the First Minister a very warm welcome to the county borough.
The First Minister was greeted by the Mayor of Blaenau Gwent, Cllr Derrick Bevan and his wife Gaynor, Director of Ebbw Fawr Graeme Harkness, Chair of Governors Rod Davies; Corporate Director of Education Lynette Jones and Executive Member for Active Living and Learning Cllr Keren Bender. He was then given a short tour of the school by Mr Harkness, where he took the opportunity to chat with several pupils that have represented Wales in their respective sports over the past year or so.
He was then escorted to the school hall where he met with pupils who are elected senior ambassadors for the school and, after speeches, was invited to unveil a plaque to mark the occasion.
The First Minister was then presented with a special gift of thanks by pupils and treated to a performance of ‘Yma o Hyd’, an old Welsh folk song, by the school choir, before he was bid farewell by a group of year 7 students.
The First Minister said:
“It is vital to the future prosperity of Wales that education is delivered in modern facilities that inspire our learners. This was the first 3 – 16 maintained school in Wales and it is important that we have great buildings that inspire our young people when they come here to learn. This building is fantastically impressive and Ebbw Fawr is a great example of an innovative school. I would like to congratulate everyone involved in the development of Ebbw Fawr Learning Community, it will serve many future generations well, and I wish them well as they work in together in partnership to deliver high quality learning opportunities for the people of Blaenau Gwent.”
Ebbw Fawr Learning Community is a £54million investment into educational facilities in Blaenau Gwent on the former steelworks site in Ebbw Vale, a partnership between the Welsh Government and Blaenau Gwent Council. Secondary and pupils are educated on separate site but the school has an overall Founding Director and one Governing Body working towards the same vision and ambitions. The benefits of 3 – 16 through learning have been evidenced to include effective transition from primary to secondary; improved consistency in teaching and learning; a curriculum continuum; the improved deployment of resources and innovative leadership.
Graeme Harkness, Director at Ebbw Fawr, says:
“We were delighted to welcome the First Minister back for a second visit to Ebbw Fawr and to formally declare the school open. During the last three years we have seen improved student outcomes at all key stages throughout the school which was one of the key targets behind the decision to create an all through school. With high level results and new outstanding facilities we look forward to the future for our students with real optimism.”