FLINTSHIRE County Council has been successful in securing funding for a remodelled primary school and a brand-new building in Queensferry.

The project will provide a remodelled and refurbished 3-11 primary school for up to 180 full time pupils on the existing Queensferry CP School campus on Chester Road and also provide a new build for Plas Derwen for up to 97 of our most vulnerable learners from 4-16 who experience difficulty accessing mainstream education and require specialist intervention for their behavioural, social and emotional challenges.

This announcement was celebrated recently at the campus by members and officers of Flintshire County Council along with the head teacher and pupils of Queensferry CP School, representatives from Welsh Government, Plas Derwen head teacher, Deeside Community Trust and representatives from Kier and EWA Architects.

Flintshire County Council’s cabinet member for education and youth, Councillor Ian Roberts, said: “This much needed modernisation of the school and the new build for Plas Derwen will be of a high standard and will provide modern, first class facilities and the best learning opportunities for our children.

“The Council remains committed to investing in the future of our children and young people. We continue to work to provide a high-quality sustainable education for all our learners. I look forward to seeing work for this exciting project start on site.”

The project has also secured additional capital investment through Welsh Government to facilitate the development of a new community learning hub on the Queensferry campus. The community learning hub will incorporate a number of facilities which will provide adult and vulnerable young people learning opportunities and intervention services, flying start provision, community use and community sports club facilities in one location. Some additional funding has been secured through Flying Start and also the Welsh Rugby Union.

Education Minister Kirsty Williams said: “This is an exciting announcement and another example of how the Welsh Government’s 21st Schools and Colleges Programme is having a positive impact on education and learning.

“Our national mission is to raise standards, reduce the attainment gap and deliver an education system that is a source of national pride and our 21st Century Schools and Colleges Programme plays a key part in this. This investment is absolutely crucial if we are to provide our pupils with the learning environments they deserve, while supporting them to achieve their aspirations.”

Both the refurbished primary school and the new build Plas Derwen will be on the same site.

Peter Commins, managing director at Kier Regional Building North West, said: “We are delighted to be working with Flintshire County Council to deliver this much-needed project for the local community. Through previous projects with the council, we have established strong relationships with the local supply chain, which we’ll be utilising throughout this project.

“Our longstanding relationship with the Council has seen us deliver a number of projects in the region including Hwb Clyfe, an adult day care centre in Queensferry – and we look forward to continuing this relationship.”