A REMNANT of the current Croesyceiliog School will stay on as part of the £30million new build for the purpose of providing post-16 provision, despite its removal from the plans.

Torfaen council’s cabinet agreed to award the second phase of project – the construction of the school – to Kier, the previously appointed main contractor, on Tuesday.

Earlier this month, the council’s planning committee agreed to remove the provision of the sixth form from the new Croesyceiliog School.

Cllr David Yeowell, the executive member for education and lifelong learning, told members that one building should remain untouched for post-16 educational purposes and until the new site is ready.

“There is some kind of lag or overlap between the opening of the new sixth form institution and the closure of the sixth form at the school,” said the Panteg ward member.

“We looked at several different options to accommodate those who were caught in that split.

“We believe that the best possible solution and outcome here is to leave untouched one of the buildings in order to house the sixth formers who are still being taught.

“I think the school is also more than happy with that solution.”

The executive member told members that one of the issues during the planning phase was linked to whether the new school would include post-16 provision.

“What we have had to do is to develop plans for an 11 to 16 in parallel with an 11 to 18 institution because at that point, we hadn’t yet had the go-ahead, although we were confident, we hadn’t had the go-ahead for the closure of the sixth forms in our remit,” he said.

Cllr Yeowell added that the education service were pleased with the role the school had played in the new build’s design.

“We are happy with the way in which the school is co-operating with the developers because they’ve had an input into the design of the plans which is good,” he said.

“They will be populating the new school.

“We, the education service and myself, would probably share with the school the tremendous excitement of watching the school grow out from the ground over the next few months.”

Cllr Yeowell added that the contract, worth £21,628,621, forms part of the council’s biggest spend in terms of the 21st Century School programme, totalling £30million.