Pupils and teachers take first look at ‘brilliant’ new school in Clocaenog

Ysgol Carreg Emlyn is set to move into the £2.7million two-storey building in Clocaenog in September, two years after the plan was approved - and the pupils and teachers felt it was well worth the wait.

The building includes four classrooms, dining rooms, changing rooms, a music room and a hall which the entire old school building in the village could fit into.

The building includes a range of eco-friendly features, as well as modern play areas and a football pitch.

The Welsh medium community school has two sites, in Clocaenog and Cyffylliog, which merged in 2014 to help each other cope with being oversubscribed.

The new building will cater for up to 95 pupils aged three to 11 from a network of villages surrounding Clocaenog, five miles south-west of Ruthin, including Cyffylliog, Bontuchel, Clawddnewydd and Derwen.

One teacher said he “can’t put into words” the potential that the building has to improve pupils’ learning opportunities.

The school was funded by Denbighshire County Council and the Welsh Government as part of its 21st Century Schools and Education Programme, which aims to reduce the use of poor condition and energy inefficient school buildings, and improve the provision of Welsh language education.

Year six teacher Garmon Evans (back left) and pupils like the look of their new classroom.

They appointed Wynne Construction, the Bodelwyddan construction firm, to carry out the build over 12 months. About 60 per cent of the total cost was spent on sub-contractors from North Wales and the Wirral.

The design includes eco-friendly features such as an electronic building management system, energy-free ventilation, natural lighting and timber framing, which provides added insulation.

The county council and contractor carried out a full consultation with the school staff, parents, pupils and nearby residents.

The old school building in Clocaenog, which was lacking in space for the number of pupils, could fit into the new hall.

Alison Hourihane, business and community development manager for Wynne Construction, said: “We have worked with the school community and residents since the design stage because Clocaenog is a small village and we wanted them to be happy with the new building.

“Pupils from Ysgol Carreg Emlyn’s eco council also visited the site during construction to see how the work was progressing.

“We’re very pleased with the final result.”

Einir Wynne Jones, headteacher of Ysgol Carreg Emlyn, said: “The new school has been a long time in waiting and we think it is brilliant.

“The pupils will have so much space - years five and six will have larger classrooms when previously we have made the best of the room we've had. The hall means that we can stage different events.

“There is more space for outdoor activities too with a modern play area and a football pitch. There is also a music room, which we don’t have in the old school, and we are in the process of acquiring a new piano.

“We feel so lucky to have received this investment. The school is ideally placed as Clocaenog is a central village and children from surrounding areas will be able to attend.”

Ysgol Carreg Emlyn pupils Morgan, eight, and Elan, nine.

Pupils were also delighted with their new school.

Morgan, aged eight, said: “I’m really looking forward to making friends with pupils from Cyffylliog because we were separate but now we are going to be able to play together.”

Elan, aged nine, added: “When I first saw the school I thought ‘wow!’ because I didn’t expect it to be so big.

“All the space will make learning and playing much easier and I’m looking forward to it a lot.”

Garmon Evans, year five and six teacher, said: “The extra space is going to be a game-changer, I can’t put into words the impact it will have on pupils’ learning opportunities.

“I’m extremely excited and can’t wait to get started here.”