The Court Schools Cardiff Groundbreaking Ceremony

The two new sites are located in Fairwater and Llanrumney, and will provide increased capacity for the school. During the ground-breaking ceremony, which was hosted at the Llanrumey site, a time capsule was buried. The time capsule was filled by Year 3 pupils with treasures like paintings of teachers, gold star awards, Pokémon cards, small toys, and a school jumper featuring the current logo.

The project worth over £23m investment, is to be delivered under Cardiff Council and Welsh Governments Sustainable Communities for Learning Rolling Programme.

The new school will grow from 42 to 72 places, with 36 pupils on each site from the 2025-26 academic year, helping to meet the city's demand for primary age specialist provision. Both sites will boast a range of comprehensive facilities including multi-use games areas, sports and soft play areas, sports pitches and horticultural areas.

The development will include:

• Construction of two new single storey school buildings at each of the Fairwater and Llanrumney sites
• Creation of new outdoor amenity areas, multi-use games areas, play-spaces and sports provision
• Landscaping, car parking, drainage and associated works
• Demolition of the existing buildings associated with the St Mellons Church in Wales Primary School (Llanrumney site).

Cardiff Council's Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Education, Cllr Sarah Merry said: "Today's event is the next milestone in the delivery of this exciting and much needed provision which plays a key part in Cardiff's plans to transform additional learning needs provision and address the shortfall in places required across the city.

"Ysgol Cynefin will be proudly co-located with two mainstream primary schools, not only allowing for sharing of good practice between schools but also helping to support opportunities for inclusion.

"The scheme also presents investment to the neighbouring schools; Pen y Bryn Primary School next to the Llanrumney site and Fairwater Primary School next to the Fairwater site, who will both benefit from outdoor enhancements including funding towards edible playgrounds, forest school areas, outdoor classrooms, external sports provision and playground equipment.

Construction of Ysgol Cynefin is expected to be completed in the Spring term 2026 and support will be provided to ensure a smooth transition for pupils and teachers.