Rhyl Catholic School Development

This page will bring news about the proposed development at the site of Ysgol Mair and Blessed Edward Jones Schools.

 

The name of the new Denbighshire Catholic school being built in Rhyl has been given by Bishop Peter as – ‘Christ the Word Catholic School’.

The new school will replace Ysgol Mair primary school and Blessed Edward Jones Secondary school and will open in autumn 2019.

Christ The Word catholic school will have 420 pupils aged 3 – 11 years and 500 pupils aged 11 – 16 years.

For further information on the new school please choose the Catholic School – Rhyl tab on the blue menu bar

The latest news will always be at the top!

28th June 2019

The Last Assembly of Blessed Edward jones Catholic High took place last Thursday evening, prior to the closure of the school and the taking down of the building. Despite extra workloads as the schools situation goes through huge changes, a wonderful evening took place as several hundred ex-pupils and staff returned for the occasion. Laughs and shrieks rang through the school corridors as old classmates reconnected. Staff were fascinated to hear stories of how their ex-pupils had progressed and moved on in life in various ways. Many were sad to think of the school coming down. Acting Head Mark Cohen welcomed everybody in a packed gymnasium and helped people re-experience school life by threatening troublemakers with extra homework or detention till 9.30pm when the event ended !! The school bell was rung symbolically for the last time. Many artefacts of the school were available for sale to fund raise for the new school, especially for families who in the current economic climate cant afford uniforms.

The birth of the Alumni Association also took place with several hundred sets of contact details of those who wish to stay connected. This means that further reunions can take place. Many ex-pupils expressed willingness to return for mentoring and encouragement of existing students of the school.

Well done to the school staff and others who prepared the evening

27th June 2019

The LAST ASSEMBLY

So far bout 400 ex -pupils, staff or governors of Blessed Edward Jones Catholic High School have booked for the LAST ASSEMBLY on Thursday 27th June from 6.30pm. There will be a chance to wander round the school, meet current staff members, enjoy a lovely buffet (many thanks to Paul Higginson for this) see a powerpoint about the school’s history and many old photographs. People can also  buy artefacts from the school as souvenirs of their old “alma mater.”

During the evening people can also join the new Alumni Association. An exciting initiative which we hope will in the future let people re-connect with old friends, organise reunions, and provide a variety of support for the new School, Christ the Word. Or Leave your name and contact details with St Mary’s parish (website or parish sec).

24th November 2017

There is an interesting “fly-through” of the new school building on the Daily Post Website (link below)
http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/fly-through-video-new-rhyl-13885192

20th June 2017

Denbighshire County Council in partnership with the Diocese of Wrexham have issued a statutory notice for the proposal for Denbighshire County Council to close Ysgol Mair/ St. Mary’s Catholic Primary school and Blessed Edward Jones Catholic High school and for the Diocese of Wrexham to establish a new English Medium, Voluntary Aided Catholic school.

You can read the statutory notice here:

https://www.denbighshire.gov.uk/en/your-council/consultations/current-consultations.aspx

If you have an objection, please write to Karen Evans, Head of Education and Children’s Services, Denbighshire County Council, PO Box 62, Ruthin, Denbighshire, LL15 9AZ. Alternatively, you can send an email to modernisingeducation@denbighshire.gov.uk

The closing date for objections is 17 July 2017.

 19th June 2017

The Formal Consultation Report regarding the proposal for Denbighshire County Council to close St. Mary’s Catholic Primary school (Ysgol Mair) and Blessed Edward Jones Catholic High school on the 31st August 2019; and the Diocese of Wrexham to establish a new 3-16 Catholic school on the existing site from the 1st September 2019, is now available on our website.

 This report summarises the responses to the recent consultation on the above proposal and the responses from Denbighshire County Council and the Diocese of Wrexham. You can find the report by clicking on the link below:

https://www.denbighshire.gov.uk/en/your-council/consultations/closed-consultations.aspx

 12th March 2017

Thanks to all those of you who turned out in large numbers last week at the Town Hall. Governors and staff from catholic schoolsas far away as Bangor, pupils, parishioners, councillors, priests, parents and friends. Clearly all are completely united behind this new School project and wish to put it in place for September 2019. The evening showed that excitement and enthusiasm are growing fast. Bishop Peter found his fellow bishops highly impressed with the £24 million pound budget for the school, considerably more than they would normally expect. Playing fields on Ffordd Derwen will include a state of the art running track, open to outside groups with a stadium for audiences. Such tracks have been generally lacking in Denbighshire. Experience has shown that these 3-16yr schools perform well. Building advice is clear that the new school can be built alongside the current schools without limiting current school operations or performance. Governors must, obviously by law, make a list of priorities for pupil admissions to the new school. The school will be open to all who wish a Catholic education, with preference for Catholics and people of faith from the wide catchment area the school refers to.

 22nd February 2017

On 7th March 2017 from 5.30 pm there will be a meeting in Rhyl Town Hall. Bishop Peter and members of Denbighshire County Council (DCC) will be speaking. This is an ideal opportunity for parishioners to engage in the development process and share views or concerns before actually responding to the consultation. Please attend if you can to show DCC how much the new school is needed and how popular it will be.

20th February 2017

Bilingual Letter to Governors of Blessed Edward Jones and Ysgol Mair schools.
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Denbighshire County Council’s Cabinet of elected members and the Diocese of Wrexham have recently approved a consultation regarding the following proposal;

Denbighshire County Council to close St. Mary’s Catholic Primary School (Ysgol Mair) and Blessed Edward Jones Catholic High school on the 31st August 2019; and the Diocese of Wrexham to establish a new 3-16 Catholic School on the existing site from the 1st September 2019.

We are now ready to carry out the consultation into the Proposal.  This will involve consulting with the parents of pupils at St. Mary’s Catholic Primary School (Ysgol Mair) and Blessed Edward Jones Catholic High school , members of staff at the schools, other relevant schools, neighbouring authorities, local councillors, constituency and regional AM’s, MP’s and other interested stakeholders.

We have prepared a consultation document which sets out the background to and an explanation of the Proposals:

www.denbighshire.gov.uk/consultations

1st February 2017

Letter to Parishes Jan 2017 from Matthew Curtis, Chairman of Governors, Blessed Edward Jones School.

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29th January 2017

DCC Cabinet has agreed to consult on catholic school consultation

Members of Denbighshire’s Cabinet have today (Tuesday 24th Jan) agreed for the Council to consult on proposals to create a brand new £23.8 million Catholic school in Rhyl, to replace the existing provision in the town.

This follows the agreement between the Diocese of Wrexham and Denbighshire County Council to progress an exciting new proposal – the proposed development of a brand new 3-16 Catholic school in the town of Rhyl. This would be progressed as part of the 2st Century Schools and Education Programme to be delivered in partnership with the Welsh Government.

The proposal put forward is for a brand new 3-16 Catholic School to replace Ysgol Mair/ St. Marys Catholic Primary and Blessed Edward Jones Catholic High School on the same site and open on 1st September 2019.

The formal consultation will now take place from 14th Feb until 27th March 2017.

Councillor Eryl Williams, Denbighshire’s Cabinet Lead Member for Education said, “I’m delighted that the Cabinet has agreed for the consultation to go-ahead.  There have been very positive discussions with the Diocese of Wrexham and the schools to deliver this exciting project that would transform Catholic education for pupils in the Rhyl area.