MONMOUTHSHIRE County Councillors are set to push through plans which would see a multi-million pound investment in King Henry VIII school, and a brand new Welsh medium establishment in Abergavenny.

The plans would see a substantial £45m funnelled to a root and branch development of the comprehensive, and a new Welsh language primary school built under the Welsh Government’s 21st Century Schools Programme.

Councillors have pressed for King Henry VIII’s redevelopment to take priority due to its ‘poor condition’ and its location within what the report deemed a ‘deprived area’. The school also has the highest number of pupils in receipt of free school meals – a government-defined poverty marker – across all secondary schools in Monmouthshire.

A council meeting this week will discuss the next stage for the ambitious project.

Councillor. Martin Groucutt, Chairman of MCC’s Children and Young People Select Committee, said, “As Chair of Monmouthshire’s Children and Young People scrutiny committee and a local Abergavenny councillor I am very pleased that these proposals are coming before the committee.

“I know that there is a long way to go in this process but I am particularly pleased that we have an opportunity to discuss this and the risks and opportunities that it presents.”

The school’s urgent need of repair could thrust its redevelopment ahead that of a new secondary school earmarked for Chepstow, after councillors said they felt the Abergavenny school ‘offered greater potential’ for Monmouthshire County Council to reach its policy goals.

A report discussed by councillors said both schools needed redevelopment, but argued that King Henry VIII should get priority owing to its building condition. Councillors also contended that Abergavenny’s hosting of the National Eisteddfod allowed the authority to build on its Welsh language aims with the creation of a new home for the over subscribed Ysgol Gymraeg y Fenni.

Another point suggested the abolition of tolls on the Severn Crossings anticipated an increase in Chepstow residents, a notion ‘difficult to predict’, and grounds to move the Chepstow School development to a Band C status, giving King Henry VIII priority.

If given the green light, some £45m could be spent on revamping the school, which posted strong A-Level and GCSE results recently.

The Welsh Government’s 21st Century Schools programme has allocated millions for ‘long-term and strategic’ investment in Welsh schools to modernise buildings and facilities, as fundamental reforms bestride the Welsh education system.

Any development is likely to involve total reconstruction of the comprehensive school’s ageing buildings, with half of all funding matched by the county council in tandem with Welsh Government.

Councillor Richard John, a Conservative for Mitchel Troy ward and cabinet member with responsibility for education, said back in August that the plans needed cross-party support.

Commenting to the Chronicle this week, Councillor John said,“I am pleased that these initial proposals for the redevelopment of King Henry VIII School and other schools in Abergavenny are being considered this week by Monmouthshire’s Children and Young People Select Committee.

“This is an exciting opportunity to modernise school buildings and re-shape the educational provision in Abergavenny including increasing the scope to learn through the medium of Welsh.

“However, these are very early days in this process and we are working with the Welsh Government as, with much of the public sector, we are in challenging financial times and the affordability of any proposals will be a key consideration.”

MCC’s chief officer for children and young people, Will McLean added,“These proposals represent a key development in our ambition for education in Monmouthshire.

“The opportunity to reshape our estate in Abergavenny is one that we want to take forward in a way that maximises the opportunities for learners and also ensures that the costs of the project are manageable and affordable.

“In particular the proposal currently looks to develop the provision of education through the medium of Welsh.

“We will work with all our schools and stakeholders to ensure that any project meets the needs of current learners and those of future generations.”