PLANS to develop a Welsh-medium seedling school in Porthcawl have taken another step closer this month after Bridgend County Borough Council gave approval to invite tenders for the construction of the scheme.
The proposals were handed in to the local authority’s planning department in September of 2025, and would see the new facility located on land that currently forms part of Porthcawl Primary School.
Once completed the new seedling school would cater for 30 full-time-equivalent nursery places and 30 reception places.
It would also provide childcare provision for 22 full time equivalent childcare places which offers full care from birth to four years.
It is currently expected to open in 2027 and would be operated and governed by Ysgol y Ferch o’r Sgȇr with pupils transitioning to that school at year one for their primary education.
The planning application said: “Upon completion the site will have split facilities with the nursery occupying approximately 180sqm and the seedling school 533sqm.
“The remainder of the site will comprise of external play areas split between the facilities, landscaping, and improved means of access.”
Funding for the project is expected to be provided by the Welsh Government in the form of a grant, subject to the council obtaining approval for the childcare element of the scheme.
A council spokesperson said: “Expected to open in 2027, it will be operated and governed by Ysgol y Ferch o’r Sgȇr with pupils transitioning on to that school at Year One to conclude their primary education.
“This arrangement will be in place until an all-new Welsh-medium primary school can be established to serve the Porthcawl area as part of a future band of the ongoing school modernisation programme.”
Speaking at the meeting, councillor Hywel Williams of Blackmill said he welcomed the opportunity to deliver the school which locals had been requesting for a long time.
The decision to go out to tender was given unanimously by members at a cabinet meeting held on February 3, 2025.
The project comes alongside a number of other school developments which are planned for Bridgend in the coming years.
These include a replacement site for Heronsbridge Special School at Island Farm as well as another at Mynydd Cynffig Primary School in the village of Kenfig Hill.
