Cardiff's brand-new primary school has been named and new Headteacher appointed

Ysgol Gynradd Groes-wen Primary School is the chosen name for a brand new primary school to serve parts of north-west Cardiff.

Located at the Plasdwr development on land South of Llantrisant Road, ‘Groes-wen' is named after a small hamlet, and a Whitecross, which existed at the junction of Llantrisant Road and Radyr as part of the Penrhys pilgrimage.

The exciting news follows the announcement that Richard Carbis has been appointed by the schools temporary governing body, as the new headteacher for the school. An experienced Headteacher having previously led Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg Cwm Derwen, Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg Evan James and Ysgol Pencae (his present post) in Cardiff, Richard has also been seconded to various roles during his career including the strategic lead for leadership, Welsh Strategic Officer and a Systems Leader for Central South Consortium.

Construction of the new school is well underway, which when completed will serve the early phases of the Plasdwr development, spanning parts of Creigiau, St Fagans, Radyr, Morganstown and Fairwater.

Ysgol Gynradd Groes-wen Primary School will feature contemporary architecture and a range of amenities accessible to the public, providing opportunities to bring new residents and families together with the aim of becoming a recognisable hub at the heart of its new community.

The two form of entry school will offer 420 places in total and is the first of its kind in Cardiff to provide a dual language education stream. This means that one-form of entry will offer Welsh-medium education and one-form of entry will offer English and Welsh dual-language education. In addition, there will be 96 part-time nursery provision.

Applications for school admissions to Cardiff primary schools including Ysgol Gynradd Groes-wen Primary School will open in November 2022 for entry into Reception and January 2023 for Nursery. The school will admit its first pupils in September 2023. Pupils in school Years 1 and 2 will also have the opportunity to apply to the school from April 2023 ready to start from September 2023.

Cabinet Member for Education, Employment and Skills, Cllr Sarah Merry said: "The naming of the new school and the appointment of its headteacher is positive progress in the establishment of this new and exciting school.

"An innovative variation on the traditional primary school, Ysgol Gynradd Groes-wen Primary School will deliver new and exciting opportunities through the introduction of the dual language model, whilst providing a modern, well-equipped and efficient learning environment.

"I would like to congratulate Richard who with support from the schools governing body, will lead the school in creating an exciting vision for the future, ensuring that children and young people receive the best possible education.

Cllr Merry added: "Ysgol Gynradd Groes-wen Primary School will support Cardiff's aspirations to grow the Welsh language set out in our bilingual strategy, through a model which looks to increase Welsh-medium education in a strategic way, ensuring that our new schools are on a strong financial footing; our existing primary schools in the area remain viable; and that the schools we offer cater for the range of parental preference we see in Cardiff."

Richard Carbis, Headteacher at the new school said: "It is truly an honour to have been appointed as the Headteacher of Ysgol Groes-wen.  I look forward to being part of building a new school within a new district in Cardiff.  This is both a unique and exciting opportunity to embed an ethos of bilingualism as a vibrant and active part of the community."

Daniel Tiplady, Chair of Governors said: "This innovative School is breaking new ground for Cardiff and Wales by emulating models that exist around the world in dual language education. "The School will be at the heart of the new community being developed in north-west Cardiff and will ensure Welsh as a significant part of the educational experience of new groups of pupils."

The school is being delivered under a Section 106 agreement, and is in addition to the new and expanded schools being delivered by Cardiff Council and Welsh Government under its £284m Band B Sustainable Communities for Learning Programme.

You can read more about the dual language education model WG43283 (gov.wales)