The new £60 million Willows High School in Splott, Cardiff, has officially opened its doors to pupils. The purpose-built school includes an urban farm for year-round food growing, modern classrooms and specialist learning spaces.
Pupils explored the building for the first time this week, moving from their old school, which was in a state of disrepair and outdated. The new complex has space for 900 pupils aged 11 to 16 and a 30-place special resource base for those with complex learning needs.
Facilities for pupils and community
The school features extensive sports and wellbeing facilities, including a sports hall, gym, drama studio, grass pitches, an all-weather 3G pitch, outdoor learning areas and community-access sports facilities available outside school hours. New dining, kitchen and main hall spaces have been designed to be large enough for the school to grow in future.
There is also an urban farm, an indoor growing system where fresh lettuce, herbs and edible flowers can be grown throughout the year. Pupils will be involved in growing, maintaining and harvesting produce as part of learning about sustainability, food production and the environment. The growing area will link subjects including science, health, design and environmental studies while encouraging student leadership and responsibility, the school said.
Community hub and transport links
At the heart of the building is a VIP Lounge, a hub which will host wellbeing activities, skills courses and community events to bring pupils, families and the wider local community together. Facilities such as the sports hall, 3G pitch and other community spaces will also be available for use outside school hours.
Improved transport connections to the site have been built in, including better pedestrian and cycling access and new bus routes so people have easier options not to drive.
School leaders welcome pupils
Headteacher Chris Norman said: “Seeing our pupils walk through the doors of their new school for the first time has filled us all with an enormous sense of pride, excitement and optimism for the future.
“This new building reflects our ambition for every young person to succeed and gives them a learning environment that matches their potential.
“As we begin this new chapter together, we look forward to creating new memories, achieving new successes and ensuring that every pupil who walks through these doors feels a sense of belonging and is empowered to achieve extraordinary things.”
Cabinet member for education, employment and skills, Cllr Sarah Merry, said: “Today is a landmark moment for Willows High, its pupils, staff and the wider community. Seeing pupils walk through the doors of their new school for the first time and witnessing their excitement as they explored these fantastic facilities has been truly special.
“This investment is about much more than a new building. It is about creating opportunities, raising aspirations and helping ensure that every young person can access an outstanding learning environment.
“Alongside exceptional teaching and sporting facilities, the project has improved transport links through new bus services and enhanced walking and cycling routes, helping pupils travel to school safely and sustainably.
“From the innovative urban farm to the community-focused VIP lounge, every aspect of the development has been designed to benefit both learners and the wider community.
“Willows High has a proud history and a strong sense of identity. This remarkable new school celebrates that heritage while providing a learning environment fit for the future, and I am delighted that pupils can now begin making it their own.”
Heritage and sustainability
The school is named after Ernest Willows, the pioneering Cardiff airship engineer whose innovation helped put the city on the global map in the early 20th century. The school's new logo draws inspiration from the area's heritage, incorporating the Triquetra Celtic knot to represent land, sea and sky, while reflecting the propellers of Ernest Willows' airships. The interwoven design aims to reflect the diversity of the local community.
The school was delivered by Morgan Sindall Construction as part of Cardiff Council and Welsh Government’s sustainable communities for learning programme, and has been built to net zero carbon standards.
