Cardiff Council is celebrating major milestones in the new development of The Court School, with a series of exciting events and community engagement initiatives taking place throughout June.

The £23 million project, delivered under Cardiff Council and the Welsh Government's Sustainable Communities for Learning Programme, will see the construction of two new school sites - one in Fairwater and one in Llanrumney. The new school, named Ysgol Cynefin (meaning "habitat school"), reflects a deep connection between people and the natural world, promoting identity and wellbeing.

In partnership with Kier, the contractor chosen to design and deliver the new school, a range of activities from hands-on design workshops to a family fun day and a ceremonial structure signing, are bringing pupils, parents, and the wider community into the heart of the development process.

Earlier this month, pupils took part in a creative design session led by educational furniture supplier Morleys. Children explored classroom concepts, colour palettes, and materials, helping shape the look and feel of their future learning environment. The session was a vibrant example of how the project is fostering inclusion and imagination.

A structural signing ceremony at the Llanrumney site is planned where pupils where pupils and stakeholders will sign the wooden structure of the new building.Ysgol Cynefin is pioneering sustainable construction by using Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT), a material that reduces carbon emissions and supports energy efficiency. CLT also enables faster, low-waste construction, achieved through the offsite manufacture that enables precision cutting and reduces waste. Combined with biophilic design—incorporating natural elements like wood, this will create an inspiring environment that will enhance well-being and learning and reflects Cardiff's commitment to sustainability, innovation, and the future well-being of students and staff.

Headteacher Jamyn Beesley said: "Excitement is really building within our school community as the project continues to develop and take shape. The construction work looks fantastic, and we're incredibly grateful to the Local Authority and Kier for their collaboration and continued support. We've genuinely felt listened to and involved at every stage of the process.

"Our amazing pupils are especially enjoying being part of the journey. They've loved visiting the sites, putting on their PPE, and getting hands-on with key moments like the groundbreaking and signing structural elements.

"While we'll miss our long-standing home in Llanishen, we know our pupils deserve purpose-built facilities that will truly help them thrive. Next week's Family Fun Day is a big highlight - there's a real buzz around the creative activities planned, including graffiti and pottery workshops. We're particularly excited to be working with Lloyd, our graffiti artist, to create vibrant murals that will move with us to our new homes in Fairwater and Llanrumney."

Further events will also include a fun day where families will be invited to contribute to the school's legacy by creating graffiti art and pottery pieces that will be incorporated into the new buildings and a topping out ceremony to celebrate the completion of the building's highest point, bringing together partners and community members.

Cardiff's Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Education, Cllr Sarah Merry said: "The development of Ysgol Cynefin reflects a powerful, shared commitment to nurturing belonging, creativity, and community.

As a vital part of Cardiff's vision to transform additional learning needs provision, each milestone in this exciting development brings us closer to an inclusive future for the school where collaboration, innovation, and opportunity are at the heart of every child's educational journey."

Once complete, the school will expand from 42 to 72 places, with 36 pupils on each site starting during the 2025-26 academic year. The facilities will include:

• Modern, single-storey school buildings at both sites
• Multi-use games areas, sports pitches, and soft play zones
• Horticultural spaces and landscaped outdoor learning environments
• Car parking, drainage, and associated infrastructure
• Demolition of the former St Mellons Church in Wales Primary School buildings at the Llanrumney site

Ian Rees, regional director at Kier Construction Western & Wales, said: "Both Ysgol Cynefin schools have really taken shape over the past few months and we are delighted to be celebrating a major milestone this month.

"These two projects embody our commitment to creating sustainable and inclusive learning environments. It's been fantastic to have pupils from the school taking part in our milestone celebrations and producing artwork that will be proudly displayed in their new schools."

A number of initiatives are being delivered in partnership with Kier as part of the Community well-being linked with the construction of the news school, designed to benefit local communities.

Contractors delivering development projects of more than £250k are required to submit an overall delivery plan outlining their approach and are supported by the Council to deliver on their commitments to communities throughout the lifecycle of the project.

They focus on:

• Training and recruitment of economically inactive people
• Supply chain initiatives and working with the 3rd sector
• Educational initiatives
• Community and cultural initiatives
• Environmental initiatives

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