PLANS to create a new school for pupils with complex additional learning needs in Wrexham have take a major step forward.
Wrexham County Borough Council’s Executive Board has approved the transfer of the former Opportunities House near Rhosymedre School in Plas Madoc from the Economy and Planning Department to the Education department – paving the way for it to become the Copa School.
Copa – the Welsh word for ‘summit’ – will have a capacity of 18 high school pupils at Key Stage Three and Four with complex neuro-diversity and autism-related needs.
The facility on Hampden Way would reduce the number of pupils being sent to out-of-county placements to receive the specialist educational support they need.
Conservative group leader and Erddig councillor Paul Roberts asked Lead Member for Education Cllr Phil Wynn what the cost implications were to transform the former community Centre into a school.
“The report says the costs to Wrexham Council are minimal, can we put a figure on that,” he asked.
Cllr Wynn said that Welsh Government funding was available for the initial costs.
“We are working on the premise that we secure a Welsh Government grant to carry out the work and we anticipate that work to cost less than £500,000,” he said. “The capital costs will not fall onto Wrexham Council taxpayers.
“Moving forward the facility will be funded from the Wrexham Council education and schools budget.
“There will be a saving in the revenue costs because the school is in county and run by Wrexham Council, not the private sector. It will cost us less to operate than we currently spend on transport and other costs related to out-of-county placements.”
Final negotiations between the two departments will now take place to complete the transfer and a public consultation will be launched from Monday, March 24, to Sunday, May 11.
The consultation will allow the public to give their feedback and a child-friendly version will also be published to allow young people to have their say on the new school.
The goal is for the new school to be open by April 2026.
