Pupils at Lansdowne Primary face being taught in temporary classrooms and the old Fitzalan building because their current home is in such a poor state
OVER 300 primary school children will be moved to temporary classrooms after Cardiff Council gave the go ahead for the relocation of Lansdowne Primary School.
The dilapidated Grade II listed building had to close four times during the last academic year due to safety concerns.
The former site of Fitzalan High School, which is a kilometre away from Lansdowne, has been deemed the “only viable option” by the council, which is yet to finalise plans for the refurbishment of the rundown Lansdowne site.
What’s the backstory?
The Victorian building, which was used as a military hospital during WWI, has reached its “end of life” stage, according to the council’s own report which was considered at a meeting on Thursday, January 23, 2025.
Problems have included leaking roofs, crumbling stonework and internal rainwater damage.
The building is currently deemed safe but daily monitoring of the situation is necessary to ensure the school can remain open.
Due to the building’s listed status, any longer-term remedial work would need listed building consent and would lead to a prolonged school closure.
As a result, the council has said that the “only viable option” is to proceed with a relocation for the start of the 2025/26 academic year.
The former site of Fitzalan High School, which is now owned by Cardiff Council, has been identified as the best location for the move. Fitzalan pupils recently moved to a modern new building.
Lansdowne pupils will be accommodated in portable cabins as well as sections of the old Fitzalan building.
The lack of clarity regarding the long-term renovation plans of the Lansdowne site has caused anxiety among parents who want a permanent solution.
Melanie Godfrey, the council’s director of education and lifelong learning, told the children and young people scrutiny committee that any long-term plan for the future of the Lansdowne site could take up to 12 months to propose.
What are parents most concerned about?
There is an acceptance among parents that a temporary relocation is necessary to stop any further impact that school closures may have.
But there is concern that the council is yet to decide upon a timeframe for the refurbishment of the Lansdowne site.
Kevin Michael John, a Lansdowne parent, said on a the Save Lansdowne Primary School Facebook group: “It’s not just about where they’re taught, it’s about how much disruption they’ll face and the lack of a clear plan for their future. The council says this is temporary, but there’s no proper commitment to bring them back to Lansdowne and that’s what’s worrying.”
Coun Merry, when asked about the plans at Thursday’s meeting, reiterated the difficulty in trying to refurbish a listed building.
She highlighted that any refurbishment would “need the approval of Cadw” which could delay the process.
Currently there is no solid timeframe for when the pupils will return to Lansdowne.
The Fitzalan site also currently accommodates a Pupil Referral Unit (PRU) for secondary school children unable to attend mainstream school.
The council has provided assurances to parents that the sites will be entirely separate and that no mixing between the students will take place.
What has Cardiff Council decided?
Cardiff Council has sanctioned the relocation which will involve the construction of temporary portable buildings to supplement the Fitzalan site.
Coun Merry provided assurances that the demountable accommodation will be of the “highest standard” and will be able to meet all the needs of the pupils.
It is expected that the move will take place in October 2025, a month after the start of the new academic year.
