A WELSH-medium secondary school which has undergone a £12 million revamp to make room for more pupils will be full by 2017, the Argus has learned.

Ysgol Gyfun Gwynllyw in Pontypool is Gwent’s only Welsh-medium secondary school which accepts pupils from neighbouring counties, not just Torfaen. It is expected to reach its 1,100-pupil capacity by 2016/17.

Head teacher Ellis Griffiths, who has been in post since 1996, told the Argus: “We are fine until the end of the 2016/17 academic year.

“Currently we are the only Welsh-medium secondary school in Gwent which takes pupils from Monmouthshire, Torfaen, Blaenau Gwent and Newport, and we know that by 2016/17 there will be a need for a second Welsh-medium high school somewhere,” he said.

Work to extend and refurbish the school – which currently has 980 pupils on roll – was completed on time in November last year at a cost of £12.1 million, paid for by the four councils as well as £3.4 million from Welsh Government. The school works in partnership with Ysgol Gyfun Cwm Rhymni in Blackwood for its 14-19 provision, with teachers travelling between the two to offer more than 30 courses in the medium of Welsh, but that school only takes pupils from Caerphilly county borough.

A second Welsh-medium high school is due to be completed in Caerphilly town by September this year.

Education minister Leighton Andrews said the matter was “being taken seriously”.

A Welsh Government spokesman said: “We expect all local authorities to identify how they will provide sufficient and appropriate places for children whose parents/carers desire them to have Welsh-medium education.

The School Standards and Organisation (Wales) Act 2013 will place a duty upon local authorities to prepare, consult on and publish a Welsh in Education Strategic Plan that will be submitted for approval of, and monitoring by Welsh ministers.”

‘Crunch time for city pupils in 2016’

SOUTH Wales East AM Lindsay Whittle has called for a new Welsh-medium secondary school in Newport, even if it shares it with another authority.

The Plaid Cymru AM said parents have told him there will be no Welsh-medium provision in Newport for children entering secondary education in 2016.

“Newport enjoys three Welsh-medium primary schools and at the moment transports pupils to Torfaen for their Welsh-medium secondary education at Ysgol Gyfun Gwynllyw,” he wrote in a letter to education minister Leighton Andrews.

“But this secondary school will reach capacity. This cannot continue.”

Will Godfrey, chief executive of Newport council, told Mr Whittle in a letter: “It is likely that additional Welsh-medium secondary education will be required in 2016 to accommodate the children in Welsh-medium primary schools,” he said.

Any plans will be subject to full public consultation, said Mr Godfrey.