​The Bishop of Wrexham, Rt Rev’d Peter M. Brignall and invited guests have taken part in a turf cutting ceremony at the site of a Kier Construction development to replace Ysgol Mair primary school and the Blessed Edward Jones Catholic high school with the new Christ the Word Catholic school.

The £23 million new school is funded in partnership by Denbighshire County Council and the Welsh Government through its 21st Century Schools Programme and is located next to both existing schools.  The enabling works is being undertaken by Kier Construction and subcontractors; Jennings Construction with Marshalls Civils and Drainage supplying the precast concrete sealed manhole system, catchpits, and flow control chambers to the project which is set to open in autumn 2019 via Warrington based builders merchants, Civils and Lintels.

Cllr Huw Hilditch-Roberts, cabinet lead member for Education, said: “I am delighted work is progressing on this exciting project and we look forward to working collaboratively with Kier Construction and the Diocese of Wrexham. Both Denbighshire and the Welsh Government are continuing to invest in delivering first-class learning environments for the children and young people of Denbighshire.  The capital programme has seen huge investment which will enable a better educational environment for our children, a priority for us under our Corporate Plan.”

Bishop Brignall commented: “This will be a vanguard school for the Catholic Church and for the county of Denbighshire. I’m delighted to be part of the project and to have taken part in the turf cutting ceremony at this momentous new beginning. This is a great partnership between the Welsh Government, Denbighshire County Council and the Diocese of Wrexham working together to achieve the best for the children.

“I am looking forward to when the school is open. It will provide not only education, but those other opportunities that a school in the 21st Century and the Church seek to provide, and be part of the whole community.”

Bob Adams, Operations Director at Kier, said: “We are delighted to have commenced work on this new educational facility for Denbighshire County Council.  We’ll be working with the local supply chain to construct the new building, which will provide top quality facilities to help the students reach their full potential. We will also engage with the local community to maximise opportunities for employment and skills development.”