Ground-breaking new school opens (From Western Telegraph)

Ground-breaking new school opens

A week later than their colleagues across the county, pupils at the newly constructed Pembroke Dock Community School began their first day of term on Monday.

The school is the first in Wales to be part-funded by the private sector. The capital value of the project stands at over £11.3 million, which includes a Public Information Point where people can pay their council tax and obtain council information and the cost of demolishing the 30-year-old school it has replaced.

The scheme is the result of a venture between Pembrokeshire County Council and the private sector under the Governments Private Finance Initiative.

The consortium involved in building - and for the next 30 years maintaining - the school is Kier Macob Construction (KMC) and Caxton Facilities Management.

After the 30-year lease is up, the consortium will hand back the school into council hands in the same condition that it has opened in.

The high-tech new school - which has computerised blackboards and top of the range computer information systems - will provide education for up to 450 three to 11-year-olds and also includes sporting and nursery provision and a special needs unit.

Headmaster David Thorley and pupils on the first day of term at the new Pembroke Dock Community School - the first in Wales to be part financed by the private sector. PICTURE: Martin Cavaney Photography.