Ahead of the Welsh Government Draft Budget being debated in the National Assembly, the Finance Minister has visited the site where contracts are signed with Leadbitter to build a multi-million pound state of the art secondary school.

Finance Minister Jane Hutt visited the construction site and saw the plans for the brand new "Gateway to the Valleys" school and community campus project.

The new Coleg Cymunedol Y Dderwen school on the outskirts of Bridgend, will receive a total of £26m of funding from the Welsh Government, and will replace the former Ogmore and Ynysawdre Comprehensives.

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It will house 1570 students aged between 11 and 18, and also incorporate extensive community facilities for use both within and outside of school hours. The design includes designated space for use by multiple organisations, and a community café.

There will be a Sensory Resource Base (for children with sensory and motor impairments) and additional provision for pupils with Moderate Learning Difficulties (MLD). This will be a facility that exceeds the delivery requirements of today’s curriculum, as well as offering flexibility for the future.

The school will open in September 2013.

Minister for Finance and Leader of the House, Jane Hutt, said: "This project was approved in March and the building contract signed. It is a clear example of the ongoing and continuing commitment of the Welsh Government to invest in capital projects that deliver high quality public services while boosting the economy.

"A construction workforce of over 2,000 will be employed on site during the lifetime of the project with a large percentage being employed through local companies. This will bring additional knock-on benefits to the local economy of Bridgend and the surrounding area."

(CD)