Nearly 300 children at a primary school in Newport have been forced to temporarily relocate due to safety concerns at their school building. Reception to year six pupils and staff at Millbrook Primary School in Parret Road, Bettws, Newport were due to start their new term on Monday, September 5, but will now begin on Thursday, September 8, in the former Brynglas adult training centre (ATC).
The plans were announced after Newport City Council said structural issues found at the Millbrook building over the summer required more extensive investigations, meaning 289 pupils as well as staff needed to be relocated for their safety. It comes less than a week before schools return for the start of the autumn term in Wales.
The council said the delayed return of Millbrook pupils was to give school staff time to transform the former Brynglas centre into classrooms. You can get more Newport news and other story updates straight to your inbox by subscribing to our newsletters here.
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Millbrook Primary School welcomed the Duchess of Cornwall when she visited back in July and met pupils as well as celebrating the opening of the school's new library. Newport City Council said it hoped pupils' relocation would be temporary and that "every effort is being made to return the school to the Millbrook site as soon as possible."
A Newport City Council statement said: "Millbrook Primary School pupils and staff will be temporarily relocating while building investigation works are carried out on the Bettws site. Children were due to return to school on Monday, September 5, for the start of the autumn term. Reception to year six pupils will now begin the autumn term on Thursday, September 8, in the former Brynglas adult training centre (ATC).
"This will give school staff time to transform the centre into classrooms. Transport will be provided from and to Bettws and hot meals will be delivered to Brynglas each lunchtime. Potential issues with the Millbrook building were identified in the summer term and, following further work in the holidays, it has been decided that more extensive surveys should be carried out to get a full condition report.
"To enable this to happen safely and to minimise disruption to the children’s education, it was decided to relocate the school. The nursery will remain in Bettws but will transfer to a building on Ysgol Gymraeg Ifor Hael site near to Millbrook. It has been a challenging situation but Newport City Council and the school are doing everything possible to enable this essential relocation to take place safely and in the best interests of the school.
"This is intended to be a short-term measure and every effort is being made to return the school to the Millbrook site as soon as possible. The priority is to ensure the children and staff get settled into their temporary home so there is no impact on wellbeing or education. Parents and carers, staff and governors have been informed and will be updated whenever further information is available. Alternative arrangements are being made for the Flying Start provision on the Bettws site and information will be given directly to parents and carers.
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