Fantastic to see the progress being made on site at Ysgol Cynefin, Cardiff. The groundbreaking Additional Learning Needs (ALN) Primary schools are evolving from the existing Court School. The project sees the relocating and expanding of the school across two new sites to accommodate increased demand for Primary-age specialist provision in the City.
Part II Architectural Assistant, Angela Sheppard said “It’s great to work on this exciting, transformative additional learning needs project in Cardiff.”
Constructed in Cross-laminated timber (CLT) the schools will be the first of their kind in Cardiff. The timber panels allow for building efficiency and sustainability. They also allow for a natural, aesthetic finish which further strengthens the school’s ethos of forming connections with nature and highlighting the relationship between individuals and their environment.
Formerly The Court School, the new name Ysgol Cynefin translates to habitat school, chosen by the school and key stakeholders to encompass the relationship between people and the natural world, and how connecting people to surroundings can shape a sense of identity and wellbeing.
Built on two separate sites – Fairwater and Llanrumney, each accommodating 36 key stage two pupils, addressing the growing demand for educational spaces in Cardiff. The brand-new schools have been meticulously designed to foster an optimal learning environment, including ideal special adjacencies, secure connections, and essential requirements. By situating the schools adjacent to mainstream Primary achools, the project looks to foster opportunities for inculsion and shared learning experiences.
Project Architect Angela Sheppard said “It’s great to work on this exciting, transformative additional learning needs project in Cardiff. We have created an inclusive, supportive environment where all pupils will be able to thrive. The neighbouring communities will also benefit from outdoor enhancements near to the schools, such as play spaces and forest school areas”
Ysgol Cynefin is on track for completion by the end of the 2025-26 academic year.
