Bassaleg School (Welsh: Ysgol Basaleg) is a comprehensive secondary school for pupils aged 11 to 18 years, situated in the suburb of Bassaleg on the western side of the city of Newport, South Wales, United Kingdom. The present buildings of the school range in age from the early 20th century to the present day. The buildings form a natural campus, with playing fields, lawns and gardens. It has over 1,700 pupils. Because of expanding residential development in the area, consultations took place in 2021 to 2022 to increase capacity to over 2,000 pupils by 2023.[2] Plans were approved by Newport City Council in February 2022[3] with work on the project beginning in March 2022, following a £30,000,000 investment.[4]
History
There has been a school around the current site since 1880, when Rowland Morgan (a distant relative of the Morgan's of Tredegar) endowed £20 for its creation.[5][a] In the early twentieth-century, Bassaleg Controlled Voluntary School was built in its place to serve the familes of the workers of Lord Tredegar's estate.[5] "Forge Building", as it is commonly referred, was opened in Autumn 1935, by which time the school was known as Bassaleg Secondary School.[5]
The then Lord Tredegar and Princess Olga Dolgorouky frequented the new school, hosting prize-giving, and for many years to deliver gifts to the children at Christmastime.[7][8]
During World War II, five teachers and around 250 past students were serving in the forces, while forty older male students formed the "School Harvest Camp"; sleeping in the recently built gymnasium and farming the surrounding land for six weeks.[5] By 1948, the school had become known as Bassaleg Grammar School.[5]
In 1958, Graig County Secondary Modern was established on the same site, with new buildings developed by A. Arthur & Son LTD. as a result.[9] The Secondary Modern's main building was erected adjacent to Griffin Lane, thus dubbed "Griffin Building".[5] Following the 1976 abolition of grammar schools in England and Wales, the two schools on the site merged into Bassaleg Comprehensive School, as it is known today.[5]
Justin Thomas, former International rugby union player for Wales[25]
Gallery
In 2023, the school renamed its buildings in welsh; each reflecting one of the school's values. The new names include Caredig, Parchus, Dewr, Balch, Uniondeb, and Gwydn, meaning Kindness, Respect, Bravery, Pride, Integrity, and Resilience respectively.[26]
Adeilad Balch
Front view.
Central lobby.
Adeliad Parchus
Front view.
Side view.
Adeliad Uniondeb
Front view.
Side view.
Side view of the older section of Adeilad Uniondeb.
Side view of the older section of Adeilad Uniondeb.
.jpg)
