A SWANSEA Valley comprehensive school has officially opened its expanded premises.

Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg Pontardawe’s new classrooms and Welsh language immersion centre was officially opened by Jeremy Miles, the Welsh Government minister for education and Welsh language, on Friday, October 13.

The project – which cost £2.3million and was funded by the Welsh Government through its Welsh Medium Grant programme – has allowed the school to increase its capacity.

YGG Pontardawe is a 3-11 Welsh-medium school which is close to the capacity of 335 students and 59 nursery places, but with the three additional classrooms and the refurbishment of the old gymnasium into a modern multi-purpose hall, it has increased the capacity by 60 pupils and the existing childcare setting by 12 full-time places.

Alongside the new classrooms, there have also been improvements made outside to the early years outdoor learning areas.

The immersion centre is part of a Welsh Government programme to help learners entering Welsh medium education at a later stage – usually after the age of seven – and pupils who may not have had Welsh as part of their daily routine to be able to gain the skills and confidence needed to continue their learning through the Welsh language.

It will also support learners who may have missed out on vital learning time or lost some of their language capability during the pandemic.

Cllr Nia Jenkins, Neath Port Talbot Council’s cabinet member for education and early years, said: “This ambitious project will considerably strengthen Welsh medium education in the Swansea Valley area.

“It will be a contributing factor in encouraging parents of pre-school children here to opt for Welsh medium education by providing seamless transition from childcare to full time primary education through to Welsh medium secondary education at Ystalyfera Bro Dur (north campus).

“The new facilities will also help meet the aims of the Welsh Government’s childcare offer for Wales by providing greater scope and flexibility in achieving wraparound childcare opportunities, impacting positively on the transfer rate from primary to secondary phase.”