Councillor D Davies was scheduled to be asked to approve a proposal to close and amalgamate Millbrook Primary School and Monnow Primary School, and to build a new school on the site of the existing Millbrook Primary School.

Proposed Amalgamation of Millbrook and Monnow Primary Schools

Councillor Davies had been asked to make a decision on whether to proceed with a proposal to close two primary schools in Bettws, Newport, and replace them with a new school.

The report prepared for the meeting argued that both schools have a large number of surplus places. It states that

As of January 2024 therefore, there were 571 pupils across statutory school-age year groups and 164 (22%) surplus places across the two schools.

The report goes on to say that

Due to this large number of surplus places across both primary schools, and the age and condition of the Monnow buildings, it is proposed that the two schools are amalgamated into a single 3-form entry school in a new net zero carbon building on the now vacant Millbrook site.

The report says that this project would be funded through the Sustainable Communities for Learning programme¹ and that it is proposed that the new school would open in September 2026.

The report notes that since the closure of the Millbrook Primary School building in the Summer of 2022, pupils have been taught in temporary accommodation at the former Brynglas Adult Training Centre and in a classroom in the nearby Ysgol Gymraeg Ifor Hael.

The report schedules the commencement of a formal consultation on the proposal in early 2025.

It notes that the estimated cost of the new school would be £18 million.

The report states that the decision on whether to proceed would be made by the Cabinet Member for Education & Early Years, Councillor D Davies on the basis of the consultation responses.