Work is well underway on the new Welsh-medium school building in Oakenholt. Image, Mandy Jones

Work is underway on the construction phase of Flintshire’s first new Welsh-medium primary school.

The ambitious £15.9m project, backed by £11.2m from the Welsh Government, will see the transfer of Ysgol Gymraeg Croes Atti in Flint to a new site less than a mile away from its current location.

The campus will comprise a new school which will accommodate up to 240 full-time pupils and a standalone facility dedicated to early years childcare, community events, and a Welsh immersion programme.

Flintshire County Council chief executive, Neal Cockerton, and cabinet member for education, Councillor Mared Eastwood, were recently joined on site by pupils; headteacher, Gwyn Jones, and representatives from contractor, Read Construction, to officially mark the start of the works.

Councillor Eastwood said: “I am delighted that Flintshire is investing in its first new-build Welsh primary school.

“This site represents the council’s commitment to the promotion of the Welsh language, with more Welsh-medium places being made available and additional facilities such as childcare and immersion provision being co-located on the site.

“I am thankful for the support shown by Welsh Government for this wonderful project and appreciate the hard work of Read Construction, which will deliver a school that will inspire and help children flourish.”

Along with the promotion of the Welsh language, completion of the project will also deliver Flintshire’s second net-zero-carbon primary school.

Alex Read, director of Read Construction, said: “As a North East Wales based company, Read is pleased to be working with Flintshire County Council on this flagship net-zero-carbon scheme, with work now underway to provide a first-class learning environment for the local community.

“Throughout the scheme, we are committed to achieving low-carbon and social-value excellence, supporting the local town and surrounding communities through reinvestment of the local pound and work opportunities.”

Cabinet Secretary for Education, Lynne Neagle, added: “I am delighted that construction has started on this new primary school, thanks to the Sustainable Communities for Learning Programme.

“The Welsh language belongs to us all, and increasing access to Welsh-medium education is fundamental in supporting and promoting its growth.

“This new school will provide a better learning environment for children and young people and an opportunity for more learners to become Welsh speakers.

“These new facilities are a great step in growing our language as well as benefiting the wider community.”