New school plans for Ysgol Heol Goffa move forward after years of uncertainty

A school long described as “not fit for purpose”

Ysgol Heol Goffa, which supports children with additional learning needs, has been at the centre of one of Carmarthenshire’s most high‑profile education battles. Built for fewer than 100 pupils, the school is now stretched to accommodate nearly 150, with parents and staff warning for years that the building is overcrowded and inadequate.

In July, school governor Owen Jenkins told councillors the existing site was simply “not fit for purpose”, adding:

“Our pupils deserve the provision that they are entitled to. We’ll be pressing the local authority for a rigid timescale so we can know when the first spade will go into the ground.”

📅 Timeline: The fight for a new Heol Goffa school

2017
Council first commits to a £10m replacement school.

2023
Plans scrapped due to rising costs. Campaigners brand the decision “an appalling scandal” and launch protests.

Early 2024
Independent review warns the council risks breaching duties under the Additional Learning Needs Act.

July 2025
Cabinet approves a new 150‑pupil school, costed between £28m and £35m. Families welcome the decision but demand a clear timescale.

October 2025
Council officers present the schedule of accommodation to school leaders. Feedback will shape the final design and costings.

Years of delay and community anger

The promise of a new school dates back to 2017, when the council first committed to a £10m replacement. But the scheme was later cancelled as costs rose, sparking anger across Llanelli.

Campaigners branded the decision “an appalling scandal”, while more than 9,000 people signed a petition demanding action. Parents staged protests outside County Hall, and local MP Dame Nia Griffith accused the authority of failing some of the county’s most vulnerable children.

Parents and supporters outside County Hall in Carmarthen with “Save Ysgol Heol Goffa” banners, calling for a new school to be built.

Cabinet backs a £35m new build

After months of pressure, Carmarthenshire County Council’s Cabinet voted in July 2025 to approve a new school for up to 150 pupils, at an estimated cost of between £28m and £35m.

Education cabinet member Glynog Davies described the new plan as “a much better outcome for pupils, parents and staff”, arguing that a 150‑pupil school was more achievable than the larger 250‑pupil option previously considered.

Parents Lana and Alex Dakin, whose son Jac attends the school, said they were relieved:

“It won’t undo the years our son has spent in a building that can’t meet his needs, but at least now there’s hope he’ll experience some of his school years in a setting that truly supports him.”

Headteacher Ceri Hopkins also welcomed the decision, saying the new setting would support the school’s “courageous and creative curriculum” by meeting all learning, physical and medical needs.

Latest update: design work shared

On 2 October, council officers met with the school’s Chair and Headteacher to present the schedule of accommodation for the new build. The school will now provide feedback before the design and costings are finalised.

Once agreed, the plans will move into a detailed timeline covering planning approval, statutory consultation under the School Organisation Code, and the Welsh Government’s business case process.

The Director of Education has also pledged to meet with the wider school community after the autumn half‑term break to share more details and answer questions.

“A centre of excellence”

In a joint statement, Owain Lloyd, Director of Education, and Headteacher Ceri Hopkins said:

“We remain committed to working closely to design, build and create a centre of excellence for the very well‑deserving pupils of Ysgol Heol Goffa.”

Families still cautious

Council leader Darren Price has described the project as “a really positive day” for education in Llanelli, but admitted the process will take time: “You don’t build a school overnight.”

For families and campaigners, today’s update is a welcome sign of progress — but after eight years of delays, reversals and political rows, they remain determined to hold the council to its word.

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Campaigners condemn ‘appalling scandal’ over autism provision in Llanelli

A report commissioned by the council has found that at least 115 children in Carmarthenshire currently have no suitable education provision, and others face waits of up to three years for a formal diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Condition (ASC).

The findings have prompted strong criticism from families, campaign groups, and Labour representatives in Llanelli, who accuse the Plaid Cymru-led administration of failing in its statutory duty to vulnerable pupils.

The calls for urgent action come as the council confirms its intention to build a new school for Ysgol Heol Goffa, a specialist centre in Llanelli currently operating above capacity.

The new facility — approved after a long-running campaign and a petition with more than 9,000 signatures — will eventually accommodate 150 pupils, though campaigners argue this figure is too low to meet rising demand.

Shaun Greaney, Lliedi ward councillor, said: “The situation faced by children with autism and their families in Llanelli is an appalling scandal. In my view, there has been shocking neglect of their needs. Early intervention is essential to give these children the life chances they deserve. Yet the county council seems to have no clear plan, no timescale for action, and no answers to the problem, which is growing in scale.”

Education campaigner Becki Gilroy, whose daughter Millie attends Ysgol Heol Goffa, added: “Autistic children like my daughter Millie need specialist centres of excellence. Families need a more enlightened approach — not for their children to be placed in what can sometimes amount to not much more than a babysitting service.”

Campaigners have called for wider implementation of ‘Option 4’, the full recommendation from the council’s commissioned report, arguing that partial adherence will still leave many children without the support they need.

Councillor Deryk Cundy, Labour group leader on the county council, said: “I fear the education system in Carmarthenshire is in something of a crisis and could, in future years, collapse unless there is a clear strategy going forward. Most of our ASC provision schools are already full, with many children on waiting lists and more undiagnosed in inappropriate mainstream settings.”

He added: “Schools are working incredibly hard to help children with ASC, but to ignore the situation would be incompetence by this Plaid administration and is worrying in the extreme.”

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

Ysgol Heol Goffa redevelopment plan approved by council
The specialist school in Llanelli is set to receive a long-awaited new building for up to 150 pupils.

Families urge better ASC support in Carmarthenshire schools
Parents say mainstream classrooms are struggling to meet growing needs of undiagnosed pupils.

Funding concerns ahead of Welsh Government change

Llanelli MP Dame Nia Griffith said the delay in approving the new Ysgol Heol Goffa project has placed funding at risk.

“When I last spoke to Lynne Neagle MS, the Welsh Cabinet Secretary for Education, she reassured me that money is still on the table — potentially around 75% of the cost. But the council will need to complete the required three-stage process to unlock it,” she said.

Ms Griffith also raised concerns about the wider shortage of suitable ASC provision:

“We know the existing units have next to no spare capacity. Families have had to put their lives on hold to care for their children because the proper provision is not there. It is as if all the odds are stacked against these pupils and their families. There is a duty to stand up for them and ensure better outcomes than at present.”

Senedd elections in May could result in a change of government, with campaigners fearing that future funding may be less generous than current commitments.

#ASC #AustismSpectrumCondition #Autism #CarmarthenshireCouncil #CllrDerykCundy #CllrShaunGreaney #HeolGoffa #Llanelli #LynneNeagleMS #NiaGriffithMP #PlaidCymru #WelshGovernment #WelshLabour #YsgolHeolGoffa

Heol Goffa rebuild: Council faces critical decision on future of Llanelli’s special school

Carmarthenshire Council is preparing to vote on the future of Ysgol Heol Goffa — a school built for fewer than 100 pupils, now stretched to accommodate nearly 150 children with complex learning needs. The cabinet’s decision, due on 31 July, will determine whether the town gets a fast-tracked rebuild or a larger, more expensive consolidated site.

Two options remain. Option 4 proposes a new 150-place school with additional Autistic Spectrum Condition (ASC) centres attached to mainstream campuses. Option 5 would create a single 250-place school combining all specialist provision on one site.

OptionCapacityModelEstimated CostDelivery SpeedBacked ByOption 4150 pupilsASC centres on mainstream sites£27.5m–£34.8mFasterGovernors, staff, Plaid Cymru, Reform UK, Independent councillorsOption 5250 pupilsAll provision on one site£39.1m–£49.6mSlowerSome campaigners, long-term planners

Governors, staff and campaigners have rallied behind Option 4, citing speed, flexibility and the urgent need to relieve overcrowding. The current building has been flagged for leaking roofs, cramped corridors and limited space for mobility aids — conditions that may breach disability standards.

Independent reviewer David Davies recommended Option 4 after assessing six models, noting it would allow the council to meet its statutory duties under the Additional Learning Needs and Educational Tribunal Act (2018).

Political support for Option 4 has grown steadily. Plaid Cymru’s Education Cabinet Member Cllr Glynog Davies confirmed he will recommend it to cabinet, saying: “A new and enlarged Heol Goffa can be delivered in a shorter timescale than the alternative. What’s being proposed now will be a much better outcome for pupils, parents and staff.”

Independent Cllr Rob James, formerly Labour’s group leader, added: “Option 5 appears to reset the clock and delay the benefits a new school will deliver, while a new 150-pupil school could be built quickly. I call on the council to get the shovel in the ground as soon as possible.”

Reform UK’s Cllr Michelle Beer, elected in 2024, also backs Option 4: “It is a matter of urgency that the children, parents, and staff get the much-needed new facilities they deserve. The children and parents have waited patiently for a long time.”

But Labour Cllr Shaun Greaney has taken a more combative stance — not against Option 4 itself, but against the political handling of the rebuild. He warned that Reform UK’s growing influence could jeopardise the Welsh Government’s 75% capital funding offer, and accused Plaid Cymru of dragging their heels. “Reform have no policies for Wales, and no answers,” he said. “They have some very right-wing candidates and we know the right wing are no friends of children with special needs.”

Greaney also criticised the council’s refusal to meet with the Ysgol Heol Goffa Action Group, which submitted a petition with over 9,000 signatures. “The current school is substandard and past its sell-by date. That is fact, no matter how they try to spin the story,” he said. “Now here we are, eight years down the line, and despite the political grandstanding by the party in power in Carmarthenshire, Ysgol Heol Goffa’s children, parents and staff are still waiting for action.”

Campaigners say the building is no longer fit for purpose, citing inadequate toilet facilities, narrow doorways and a leaking roof. “Despite the county council having spent around £500,000 on the existing school building, there are still problems. It’s a dangerous situation,” said action group member Becki Davies. Chair Hannah Coles added: “Our school’s families and children can’t afford to wait any longer.”

If approved, Option 4 could see construction begin quickly — a relief for families who’ve waited years for change. For Llanelli’s disabled pupils, this isn’t just a building project. It’s a chance to learn, grow and thrive in a space designed for their needs.

Related stories on Heol Goffa and Carmarthenshire politics

Concerns raised over future of Heol Goffa special school
Councillor criticism, political tensions, and the call for swift action on the rebuild. Read more »

Council explores alternative plans for Heol Goffa replacement
Following the original scheme’s cancellation, Carmarthenshire Council looks to new build options. Read more »

Petition demands new school for Heol Goffa pupils
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Reform surge shakes Carmarthenshire political landscape
A look at Reform UK’s rising influence and what it means for local council dynamics. Read more »

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#additionalLearningNeeds #ALN #ASC #Autism #AutisticSpectrumCondition #CarmarthenshireCouncil #CllrGlynogDavies #CllrRobJames #CllrShaunGreaney #disabledChildren #HeolGoffa #HeolGoffaActionCommittee #Llanelli #MichelleBeer #specialSchool #YsgolHeolGoffa

Decision on new Heol Goffa school expected this month

A long-awaited decision on a new special school for Llanelli could finally be made this month, with Carmarthenshire Council’s cabinet member for education, Cllr Glynog Davies, confirming he intends to bring forward a “definitive proposal” at a cabinet meeting on July 31.

The announcement follows years of uncertainty surrounding the future of Ysgol Heol Goffa, which serves pupils with additional learning needs and has long been described as overcrowded and unfit for purpose. Plans for a replacement school were first agreed in 2017 but were shelved last year due to rising costs — sparking protests, petitions and widespread community backlash.

Two options on the table

Following an independent review of specialist education in the Llanelli area, the council is now considering two revised options:

• A 150-place school, alongside specialist centres for pupils with autistic spectrum conditions attached to mainstream schools
• A 250-place standalone school, which would include provision for autistic pupils — and is the preferred option of Ysgol Heol Goffa’s governors and campaigners

Cost estimates range from £36.2 million to £58.1 million, with the Welsh Government expected to fund the majority of the capital investment.

Cllr Davies told full council on July 23 that “a lot of work” had now been done and that the proposal was “imminent” — though opposition councillors and parents say they’re still waiting for firm answers.

Political tensions and community frustration

Labour opposition leader Cllr Deryk Cundy pressed Cllr Davies for a clear timeline, saying parents deserved peace of mind after eight years of delays. Cllr Davies responded that the matter had to go before cabinet and reiterated his intention to make a formal proposal on July 31.

The exchange has reignited political tensions, with Plaid Cymru councillor Terry Davies accusing Labour of “generating headlines” rather than seeking genuine answers. In a Facebook post, he said:

“The announcement on Ysgol Heol Goffa has already been agreed with the school and its governors… If we’d pursued Labour’s previous proposal, the new school would already be facing serious capacity issues on opening day.”

But parents say the issue is far more urgent than party politics. Becki Gilroy, whose child attends Heol Goffa, responded:

“How dare you try and turn this around to the narrative that ‘Plaid are heroes for not building the original school as it was too small’. That’s a total insult to our intelligence. It was obvious from the start that the original plans didn’t meet current or future demand — but at least they would have provided a safe, accessible building. Right now, we’ve got water coming through the ceiling and doorways too narrow for wheelchairs.

Let’s be clear: the reason the council pulled the plug wasn’t capacity — it was cost. And now, after years of delay, we’re being told to wait even longer while they rework the plans. Meanwhile, children are stuck on waiting lists, denied the education they’re entitled to.

The David Davies review makes it crystal clear — unless a suitable school is built promptly, CCC is breaching its legal duties under the Equality Act. That includes failing to provide reasonable adjustments and accessible facilities for disabled pupils. This isn’t just a moral failure — it’s potentially unlawful discrimination.

And before anyone tries to politicise this, I’m not Plaid or Labour. I’m a parent of a disabled child who’s sick to the back teeth of being fobbed off. Our children deserve better — and the council needs to act before it’s too late.”

Campaigners demand action

The Ysgol Heol Goffa Action Committee, which has led protests and gathered thousands of petition signatures, says time is running out. In a statement earlier this year, the group wrote:

“Time is of the essence here; parents do not want to be waiting another five years plus for the new school. We agree that the school can be delivered in a more cost-effective manner, while also increasing pupil capacity to address the ever-growing need.”

The group has consistently backed the 250-place option, arguing that anything smaller would be outdated before it opens.

What happens next?

Cllr Davies is expected to present his proposal at the July 31 cabinet meeting, where councillors will review feasibility work and costings. If approved, the new school would replace the current Heol Goffa site, which has been described in council reports as “not fit for purpose” and facing significant accessibility and maintenance issues.

Related stories on Heol Goffa and specialist education in Llanelli

Concerns raised over future of Heol Goffa special school amid Reform UK surge and council delays
Published June 2024: Campaigners say political uncertainty and missed deadlines are putting disabled pupils at risk, as calls grow for urgent action on a new school.

Education cabinet member to propose new-build additional learning needs school
Published July 2024: Cllr Glynog Davies confirms plans to bring forward a new proposal for Heol Goffa, following feasibility work and community consultation.

Council says it’s looking at alternative scheme after axing Heol Goffa replacement school
Published March 2024: Carmarthenshire Council outlines new options after scrapping the previously approved school build due to rising costs.

MP says council decision to scrap new Heol Goffa school plans ‘wrong choice’
Published February 2024: Llanelli MP Dame Nia Griffith criticises the council’s decision to halt the new school project, calling it a setback for disabled children and their families.

#additionalLearningNeeds #additionalLearningNeedsProvisionWales #AdditionalLearningNeedsSchool #ALN #CarmarthenshireCouncil #CllrDerykCundy #CllrGlynogDavies #CllrTerryDavies #HeolGoffa #HeolGoffaActionCommittee #Llanelli #newSchool #PlaidCymru #specialSchool #WelshLabour #YsgolHeolGoffa