Ysgol Treferthyr, Cricieth

Ysgol Treferthyr is a new 150 place primary school in Cricieth, developed under the Welsh Government’s 21st Century Schools Programme to provide a modern learning environment. Cyngor Gwynedd proposed to replace the existing Ysgol Treferthyr, with 11 possible sites for locating a new school appraised with the Local Review Panel which included the representatives of the Governing Body of Ysgol Treferthyr. The new school has increased capacity for all primary aged children living within the Cricieth catchment area, to relieve pressure on local primary schools that are overcapacity, as well as to accommodate additional pupils from new developments in the area.

The new school is located on greenfield pastoral land on the edge of Cricieth boundary providing six classrooms, an ALN classroom, an Early Years Unit as well as a large hall, multi-use/resource room, staff facilities, sports pitch, hard surface playing area, multi-use games area and associated car parking with new highway access. The form of the building has been designed to divide the school in terms of Key Stages whilst creating a safe play environment, separating the road from the school for all the years of the school and benefit from passive surveillance.

The building has been designed to blend into its semi-rural environment, with a choice of materials to compliment the surrounding landscape. The form, finishes and colours reduce the visual impact and blend into the muted green tones of the seasonal meadows and trees encompassing the site, which can be viewed from the main road. Local slate provides grounding in terms of its geological context in keeping with the existing stone boundary/retaining walls and architectural similarities to the buildings of the area. Metal coated composite panels were chosen to articulate elements such as the Main Hall, to stand above the low level roof to replicate an agricultural barn.

The building is being built by local contractors Wynne Construction and will achieve a BREEAM Excellent rating. A range of sustainability strategies including passive solar gain, natural ventilation, photovoltaic panels and ASHP’s are implemented. A two-stage tender process allowed Early Contractor Involvement with Wynne Construction informing the design and technical development, helping to minimise risk moving forward.
The new school received Planning Consent in September 2022 and is due for completion in summer 2024 for the new school term.