Ysgol Y Deri's Ysgol Llyn Derw to be environmentally friendly

Ysgol Llyn Derw, named by pupils of Ysgol Y Deri, is currently being built on land near Cosmeston Country Park to provide for the high demand for this type of educational provision.

The school will cater for 205 pupils and will be the second site for Ysgol Y Deri, a Penarth school featured in a BBC documentary titled A Special School.

Built by the Vale of Glamorgan Council, the school will have an inside and outside learning area.

The surrounding landscape will serve as an extension of the school buildings, providing study and teaching spaces alongside areas for sports, play, socialising, relaxation and reflection.

The design of the school will allow for natural light and ventilation to be used as much as possible.

The school will also feature green roofs, bird and bat boxes, and insect spaces to boost wildlife.

Solar panels and a hybrid generator will be used to power the school, which has been constructed from materials.

Developers ISG have reduced their carbon emissions by 90 per cent by using hydrotreated vegetable oil and electricity to power machinery.

The school will have solar panels and a hybrid generator (Image: Supplied)

Cllr Rhiannon Birch, Vale of Glamorgan Council's cabinet member for education, arts and the Welsh language, said: "Ysgol y Deri 2 will provide a much-needed bespoke environment for pupils that need specialist attention and build on the fantastic work carried out at the school’s main site.

"Examples of just what a difference this can make to the lives of children was there for all to see in the recent BBC Documentary: A Special School.

"But as well as helping pupils, we also want our schools to benefit the environment. That is in line with the climate emergency declared by the council and our Project Zero commitment to become carbon neutral by 2030."

"Ysgol Y Deri 2 has a host of impressive features that make it clean and green alongside extensive provision for animal and plant life."

Kevin McElroy, operations director at ISG, said: “The Vale of Glamorgan Council’s dedication to crafting a bespoke learning environment for pupils not only enhances educational outcomes but also leaves a lasting impact on the community and local environment.

"Ysgol Llyn Derw stands as a model for carbon-neutral educational facilities, demonstrating our commitment to building spaces that are both innovative and environmentally responsible. This project aligns seamlessly with the Council’s Project Zero goal to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030, setting a new standard for sustainable development in education.”