Island's new 'green' school opens

Solar roof tiles will help the school provide some of its own power

More than 300 pupils on Anglesey are beginning lessons at the island's first purpose-built 'eco-friendly' school.

Ysgol y Graig at Llangefni boasts sustainable timber, a wind turbine and a plant and insect-friendly roof.

The £3.7m primary school has been designed to generate up to 50% of its own electricity.

Headteacher Glyn Roberts described the the new campus at Lôn Talwrn as "very impressive with facilities which are second to none."

The school's innovative design, including a host of energy saving features, has been undertaken by Anglesey council's architectural services team.

All internal lighting has been fitted with energy-efficient lamps, helping the school generate half of its own electricity through its solar roof tiles and wind turbine, with surplus electricity sold back to the national grid.

The 'green roof' has been designed to provide a natural habitat for plants and wildlife.

We live in an age where climate change is high on the agenda Anglesey council leader Phil Fowlie

Contractors Wynne Construction have built the new Ysgol y Graig which was originally located on a busy industrial estate near the town centre.

Anglesey council said the relocation would greatly reduce the number of cars delivering and collecting the children, improving road safety and leading to a significant drop in CO² exhaust emissions.

The campus also includes a new footpath link from the nearby housing estate, providing the children with a safe walking or cycling route to school.

Council leader, Cllr Phil Fowlie, commented: "This is a real landmark project for the Isle of Anglesey County Council and the first new school to be built on the island since 2002.

"We live in an age where climate change is high on the agenda, and this new school will be state of the art in terms of sustainability and environmental design."

'Science project'

Headmaster Glyn Roberts said pupils had already had a sneak preview of their new school before the Christmas holidays.

He added: "Today is a very special day for them, one they have eagerly been looking forward to for many months.

"The new Ysgol y Graig has so much to offer the pupils, in fact I'm certain that the building in itself will provide the children with a very interesting science project as well as a great new school."

Anglesey's education spokesman Cllr Eurfryn Davies said the project demonstrated the council's strong commitment to education provision.

"I'm sure that the pupils and staff will enjoy settling into their new school and I wish them well for the future," he said.