Carway Primary School to remain closed this September due to structural safety concerns

In a joint decision with Carmarthenshire County Council, the Governing Body of the Federation of Carway, Gwynfryn and Ponthenri has confirmed that Carway Community Primary School will not reopen for the start of the new academic term in September.

The closure follows a condition survey and subsequent structural investigation of Block Three on the Carway school site, conducted during the summer holidays. The Council received advice that the building’s integrity could not be guaranteed, prompting immediate action to safeguard pupils and staff.

Carmarthenshire County Council said: “This decision has been made solely to ensure the absolute safety of pupils and staff.”

All pupils will now be accommodated at Gwynfryn School, located approximately 2.5 miles away in Pontyates. The council says that transport arrangements are being finalised and will be communicated to parents shortly. Pupils may continue to wear their Carway school uniforms and will retain access to free school meals, Breakfast Club, and after-school provision.

Teaching and support staff will be redeployed within the federation, with further discussions planned before the new term begins. The Council is also working to identify suitable provision for children attending Cylch Meithrin, with updates to follow.

“We understand that the timing of this decision is frustrating,” the Council added. “However, the safety and well-being of pupils and staff remains our immediate priority.”

No timeline has been confirmed for the duration of these arrangements, as further assessments are underway to determine the future of the Carway school building.

#CarmarthenshireCouncil #CarmarthenshireCountyCouncil #Carway #CarwayPrimarySchool #education #schoolBuildings

Housebuilder kicks off summer of sport with school PE kit sponsorship

As part of its ongoing partnership with the school, Dandara, who is currently selling new homes nearby at its Golwg Gwendraeth development, will be supporting the school in purchasing new kits consisting of t-shirts, shorts, and trainers. The kits will be used during Gwendraeth Valley Mynydd Mawr sports day, with a variety of different games played including straight races, tunnel ball, spoke wheel and relay races.

The sponsorship concludes the 12-month partnership with the school for the academic year. The collaboration has included three workshops hosted at Golwg Gwendraeth, starting with a planting session, followed by an Easter egg trail around the development, and a time capsule burial to mark VE Day.

Sara Taylor, Sales Director at Dandara Wales & West, commented: “PE plays a vital role in the health and personal development of children, which is why we are happy that our sponsorship will help the school purchase new kits – we cannot wait to see the pupils all kitted out! We are proud to have collaborated with the school over the past year, and hope the pupils were able to foster an engaging relationship with Welsh history and the outdoors through our workshops.”

Catrin Melly, Teacher at Carway Primary School, added: “With the amazing weather we have been seeing recently, it has been a fantastic way to get the children outdoors to prepare for Mynydd Mawr Sports and Sports Day. These new kits could not have come at a better time! We would like to thank Dandara for their year-long backing, which has really supported the development of our pupils, and has allowed them to have such enriching experiences.”

#Carway #CarwayPrimarySchool #Dandara #shirtSponsorship #sponsorship

School bury time capsule at nearby housing development to mark 80th anniversary of VE Day

The visit hosted 22 pupils, as they placed letters and posters into the time capsule, which they helped bury with Dandara’s on site team. The letters written by the pupils described a snapshot of their lives in the present day for future generations to uncover.

Dandara’s Golwg Gwendraeth development is located near Kidwelly, a historic town that played a pivotal role in the War efforts as part of a larger network of military installations and training areas in south west Wales. Drawing inspiration from this local history, pupils also partook in a poster competition during the visit, showcasing how the Second World War is remembered in Wales.

The project was the third workshop hosted at Golwg Gwendraeth as part of the year-long partnership. The collaboration kick started with a planting session in March, where pupils had the chance to plant a selection of wildlife seeds on the development, followed by an Easter egg trail around the development in April.

Sara Taylor, Sales Director at Dandara Wales & West, commented: “We were honoured to welcome Carway School back to Golwg Gwendraeth for this special VE Day celebration. It was endearing to see their letters and posters, which showed real thought and commemoration for the special heroes who served our country. This time capsule project demonstrates the importance of VE Day and marks a key point in Welsh history, and we are proud to help create a lasting tribute to those who served during the Second World War.”

Eliza Davies, Teacher at Carway Primary School, added: “Our pupils were thrilled to take part in this special event with Dandara. It was a wonderful opportunity for them to learn more about the Second World War, connect with local history, and express themselves through creative work. The time capsule project really captured their imagination, and they were proud to contribute something that future generations might one day discover. We are grateful to Dandara for inviting us back and supporting such an enriching experience.”

#Carway #CarwayPrimarySchool #Dandara #Kidwelly #newHomes #timeCapsule

Carway Primary School helps housebuilder’s development blossom in time for Spring

Having previously donated soil and gardening kits to the school, the visit saw 20 foundation pupils put their skills to the test by planting crest, pea, wildflower and sunflower seeds in eco-friendly plant pots, with gardening kits supplied by Dandara.

The planting collaboration aims to support the growing decline of insect pollinators across Wales, with threats including habitat loss, environmental pollution, climate change and the spread of alien species. Planting new flowers will ensure pollinators receive habitats rich in nectar and pollen for food and suitable wild spaces for nests and hibernation.

Catrin Melly, Teacher at Carway Primary School, commented: “As we approach the warmer months, we have begun to incorporate wildlife and nature into our curriculum, so this activity at Golwg Gwendraeth was a great chance for the pupils to get hands on experience in how to help the local pollinators. Dandara supports us with essential resources and activities that can be aligned with our lessons is fantastic, and we look forward to coming back once the seeds have blossomed!”

Sara Taylor, Sales Director at Dandara Wales & West, said: “Continuing our partnership with Carway School over the next year will allow us to grow our relationship and work with the pupils on a number of important campaigns. Welcoming the children to the development was an educational opportunity for them to gain hands on experience and learn new skills about the importance of nurturing wildlife hubs. It was enlightening to see the passion all the pupils had during the activity, and we hope everyone enjoyed the day!”

#Carmarthenshire #Carway #CarwayPrimarySchool #Dandara #Gardening #GolwgGwendraeth #newHomes