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This is were you will be able to keep up to date with News & Events of the new King Henry VIII 3-19 School

October 2022

In October, the Sustainable Communities for Learning Team hosted engagement sessions in Abergavenny’s primary schools to support pupils in their understanding of sustainability and sustainable school design.

After the plans for the new 3-19 school were given the green light by Welsh Government, Full Council and the Planning Committee during last academic year, the building programme has made a successful start. For example, the new bus drop-off and parent pick-up on Pen-y-Pound Lane is now open and is operating successfully.

Read more about our engagement sessions in our recent article here.

It was great to be able to inform and update parents of Llanfoist and Llanvihangel Primary Schools face-to-face, and answer any questions they had. If you still have any questions, please refer to the FAQ Page where you may be able to find out more.

July 2022

Later on in July, Morgan Sindall Construction broke ground on the King Henry VIII site, with plans of making progress over the summer holidays.

At the beginning of July, we spoke with the School Council at King Henry VIII School, and showed them a fly through video which shows plans for the new school. You can watch the same video here.

June 2022

At the Full Council meeting held on 23rd June, Monmouthshire County Council’s Sustainable Communities for Learning Programme received the third and final green light regarding Abergavenny’s proposed all-through 3-19 school, set to open its doors in 2024.

Approval was granted to the inclusion of the new Abergavenny School on the Council’s Capital Programme. This followed the successful application for planning permission agreed on 8th June, and the Full Business Case being approved by Welsh Government in April 2022.

At the beginning of June, planning consent gave the green light to Abergavenny’s proposed all-through school.

May 2022

Abergavenny’s students are at the heart of plans for our proposed all-through school. Pupils have been heavily involved in recent consultation events that are shaping plans for the school, which is scheduled to open its doors in 2024.

During consultations with School Councils from both King Henry VIII and Deri View, we have listened carefully to what pupils’ ‘perfect classroom’ looks like, as well as how indoor and outdoor learning experiences can be maximised. The Student Councils have led consultations in their forms and year groups, ensuring hundreds of experts have had their voices heard.

March 2022

Later on in March, we held student consultations with student councils from King Henry VIII School and future students of the new all-through 3-19 school from Deri View primary school.

These sessions are crucial in this part of the planning process, as we were able to find out what constructive ideas students had that would shape what makes a perfect classroom, find out what pupils want their outdoor spaces to look like, and gain their honest thoughts and opinions on our progress so far.

School Leaders and teachers in King Henry VIII and Deri View schools have been central in informing the developing design of our new school. Their expertise has informed the design of inclusive and exciting learning spaces to meet the needs of the new curriculum in Wales and also recent ALN reforms.

So inspiring to hear how Tonyrefail Community School students talk in detail about their school, and how they feel their Middle School in particular has provided them with new opportunities to enjoy learning and make progress.

February 2022

This month, Sustainable Communities for Learning Advisor, Tim Bird, led a visit of MCC Children & Young People (CYP) and King Henry and Deri View schools to Ysgol Pen Rhos in Llanelli to look at learning and well-being in a wonderful new learning environment.

January 2022

Januray 19th saw the Cabinet agreeing to the next stage of the process in creating a 3-19 school in Abergavenny.

The Chief Executive of Monmouthshire County Council, Paul Matthews, took to Twitter to exclaim his excitement about these developments:

Similarly, Chief Officer for Children & Young People, Will McLean, took to Twitter to show the importance of this project:

December 2022

Planning website goes live: King Henry VIII Secondary School Site, Old Hereford Road, Abergavenny / Ysgol Uwchradd Brenin‘r Harri VIII, Hen Ffordd Henffordd, Y Fenni (asbriplanning.co.uk)

Design ideas from the planning website can be downloaded below.

Rio Planning Design & Access StatementDownload

November 2021

Community consultation

Monmouthshire County Council are passionate about gaining thoughts from the community, as well as wider stakeholders.

During our community consultations, we have managed to speak with stakeholders who have given their honest thoughts on the plans set out for the construction of a 3-19 all-through school in Abergavenny.

Will McLean, Chief Officer for Children & Young People, expressed why these community consultations are an important tool during this process:

“We listened to what the community said, and we were able to change our proposal in light of that” – Will McLean, Chief Officer for Children & Young People

This public consultation exhibition took places in @KingHenrySchool, with there being another public consultation organised for @DeriViewSchool to maximise reach on feedback. Officers from the Council, and members of the Development Team, were at hand to answer any queries any stakeholder may have had.

Please check back to this page for any further updates on where and when the next community consultation will be taking place (our FAQs page may be able help with any questions you have).

Student consultation

As part of COP26, the Eco Council met with engineers to learn how a carbon zero school is designed, built and operated.

Darren Thomas, Senior Design Manager at Morgan Sindall Construction, talks with Eco Councils

October 2021

Staff consultation

Staff at King Henry School and Deri View school explored what they considered to be the perfect classroom and how they felt their students learnt best.

Department teams researched what made effective learning in their subject, and how different spaces, inside and outside of the new school could make a big difference to well-being and achievements.

Staff feedback has been imperative in helping to shape department-specific learning environments that best suit their student’s style of learning.

September 2021

School Council consultation

During September, students and staff were busy consulting with architects, designers, engineers and members of the Monmouthshire County Council 21st Century Schools team on plans for our new 3-19 school.

Tim Bird, 21st Century Schools Advisor, consulted with School Councils from both King Henry School and Deri View School. Termly visits will take place to update pupils on what changes have been made as a result of their important input during these consultations.

Tim Bird, 21st Century Schools Education Advisor, leads the student consultation with Year 7

For regular updates on the 21st Century Schools project, follow us on Twitter.