WORK has begun on a new £5.3 million Welsh medium primary school in Blaenau Gwent – one of the first in Wales to be designed and built to the latest environmental and energy efficient standards.

The new 360 pupil school at the Rising Sun Industrial Estate, Blaina, will replace the existing Ysgol Gymraeg Brynmawr. It is due to open early in 2010.

Blaenau Gwent Council Leader, councillor Des Hillman joined pupils from the school and main contractors South Wales based WRW Group for a ground-breaking celebration.

He said, "We are investing in the schools that our children and teachers in Blaenau Gwent deserve – the hallmark of our school building projects is quality and sustainability. On this site we will see a new building with a bold and modern design to meet the growing demand for Welsh medium primary school education in local communities. Designed by our Council's Technical Services team, this school will mark another big step forward in the provision of 21st century education buildings for this generation of school children and those to come."

At the launch, councillor Hillman was joined by Blaenau Gwent Council's Executive Member for Education councillor Steve Bard, deputy leader councillor John Mason, Mayor of Blaenau Gwent councillor Jen Morgan, Rosemary Williams, head teacher at Ysgol Gymraeg Brynmawr and four pupils from the school - Drew Wall, Jasmine Wall, Amelia Hodges and Iestyn Howells.

Rosemary Williams, headteacher at Ysgol Gymraeg Brynmawr, said, "We are all excited that this great day has arrived – the start of the building of our new school.

"Everyone has worked so hard to reach the high standard of education and learning that we offer and now, in just over a year's time, we will be moving into our new school and looking forward to an even better future for our children."

The design of the new school – the third primary school to be built by Blaenau Gwent Council in three years – reflects the theme of the historic struggle for recognition of the Welsh language over the centuries.

The school will meet the Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM) 'Excellent' standard. To date only one school in Wales has been built to meet these exacting requirements.

Features of new Welsh medium school will include: 13 classrooms, 2 IT suites, school hall and playing fields, covered outdoor learning areas, solar hot water panels, intelligent energy saving controls, recycled and responsibly sourced materials, passive environmental design maximising natural lighting and ventilation, sustainable urban drainage scheme, super-insulation and significantly improved biodiversity across the site

School pupils will now be involved in the design of the school grounds.