New Rhyl High and Ysgol Tir Morfa building officially opened
The new Rhyl High and Ysgol Tir Morfa building was officially opened by the Welsh Government’s Cabinet Secretary for Education, Kirsty Williams on Friday, 21 October.
The £25 million brand new high school has been built on Rhyl High’s school playing fields and can accommodate 1,200 pupils as well as providing a base for 45 pupils from the nearby community special school, Ysgol Tir Morfa. The project has been funded by Denbighshire County Council and the Welsh Government through its 21st Century Schools and Education programme.
As well as the usual academic facilities, the school also boasts a café bar, construction yard and hairdressing salon.
Councillor Eryl Williams, Denbighshire’s Cabinet Lead Member for Education, said: “This really is an exciting chapter in the history of Rhyl High School. Many generations of pupils have been educated at the school, with future generations now benefitting from top class facilities that are fit for the 21st Century. This is a prime example of how the school has worked closely with the Council, Welsh Government and contractors Willmott Dixon to realise the dream of having a brand new high school in Rhyl”.
Cabinet Secretary for Education, Kirsty Williams said, “Our children deserve to be taught in the best buildings we can deliver, and this is what our 21st Century Schools programme aims to achieve. Rhyl High School is a fantastic example of what we can achieve working in partnership with local government and our schools, to provide learners from the area with a fitting setting to inspire their ambitions and help reach their goals.”
Claire Armitstead, Headteacher of Rhyl High School, said: “Our children can now access the best possible facilities as part of their academic and vocational studies which will provide them with the best possible start for their future education and careers. They now have the building they deserve and I cannot wait to see, how in future years, it develops and grows to meet their needs. We are extremely grateful to Welsh Government, Denbighshire County Council and Wilmott Dixon for their support to enable our educational vision to be fulfilled within this amazing building.”
Phil Thomas, Assistant Headteacher of Ysgol Tir Morfa, said: “Those pupils and staff from Tir Morfa moving across from our Ffordd Derwen site have been delighted to move into the satellite base in the new building, complete with its state of the art facilities that will benefit our pupils and future generations.”