Work begins on £5.7m Welsh immersion centre in Aberystwyth

Plans to build a Welsh language ‘immersion centre’ and significant refurbishment of Ysgol Gymraeg in Aberystwyth are pushing ahead.

The project will modernise the existing school building and see the construction of a new two-storey classroom block, providing 10 classrooms, a staff room, intervention spaces and improved facilities.

Ceredigion County Council says Ysgol Gymraeg Aberystwyth is currently the only Welsh-medium primary school in Aberystwyth and the proposed developments ‘form an important part of the Council’s Welsh in Education Strategic Plan’.

The council adds: “The new Language Immersion Centre will play a central role in supporting Welsh-medium education across the area providing additional opportunities for local families to access Welsh-medium education, helping pupils develop their Welsh language skills and supporting the transition of all other schools in Aberystwyth towards Welsh-medium provision in Foundation Learning by September 2027.”

The project was slated to cost around £5.7m, which the Welsh Government will pay for.

The centre is part of a long-term plan to increase Welsh speaker numbers in Ceredigion and throughout Wales, which has also seen other four primary schools in Aberystwyth - Plascrug, St Padarn’s, Comins Coch, and Llwyn yr Eos - being changed to Welsh-medium in the Foundation Phase, while remaining English-medium at Key Stage 2.

The project will involve the demolition of two temporary classrooms and a garage on the school site to make way for the new building.

Anna Brychan MS, Minister for Education and Welsh Language said: It's fantastic that the project at Ysgol Gymraeg Aberystwyth, funded through the Welsh-medium Capital Grant, has started. I look forward to seeing this investment result in more Welsh-medium places and support for learners who are new to the language by giving them the best opportunity to become independent and confident Welsh speakers. This will contribute towards our goal of at least one million Welsh speakers by 2050".

Cllr Wyn Thomas, Cabinet Member for Schools and Lifelong Learning, added: “This project is central to our ambition to expand Welsh‑medium education and ensure more pupils can access high‑quality Welsh medium education locally. The new facilities and Language Immersion Centre will support learners at every stage of their journey and help us build a stronger, more sustainable future for the Welsh language in our communities.”

Steve Davies, Wynne Construction Director, said: “We are delighted to have been awarded the Ysgol Gymraeg Aberystwyth extensions and refurbishment project and to be working once again with Ceredigion County Council. Having successfully delivered Ysgol Dyffryn Aeron, we understand the importance Ceredigion places on creating high-quality, sustainable learning environments that support pupils, staff, and the wider community. This latest appointment is a fantastic opportunity to build on that successful relationship and bring our experience of delivering education projects in live school environments to Ysgol Gymraeg Aberystwyth. We look forward to working collaboratively with the Council, the school and the project team to deliver a scheme that provides lasting benefits for Welsh-medium education in Aberystwyth.”

The project is fully funded through the Welsh Government’s Welsh-medium Capital Grant Scheme.