Monmouthshire County Council proudly marked a historic milestone on Thursday July 10, with the official opening of the new King Henry VIII 3-19 School in Abergavenny.

The event, attended by Welsh Government’s Cabinet Secretary for Education Lynne Neagle, Monmouthshire County Council Leader Cllr Mary Ann Brocklesby, MCC Cabinet Member for Education Cllr Laura Wright, and a host of dignitaries, staff and pupils, celebrated the completion of the first operationally net-zero carbon all-through school in Wales.

The £70 million project, jointly funded by the Welsh Government and Monmouthshire County Council under the sustainable communities for Learning programme and constructed by Morgan Sindall, represents a bold investment in the future of education in the region.

Monmouthshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Education, Cllr Laura Wright, said: “This building is more than bricks and mortar.”

“It’s a beacon for a modern education system in Wales, designed to inspire to nurture and to empower our young people.”

Cabinet Secretary for Education, Lynne Neagle said: “I was delighted to visit King Henry VIII School for the official opening and witness this remarkable investment that was made possible through our sustainable communities for learning programme.”

The ceremony featured performances from pupils across all ages, showcasing the schools through school strategy. Guest enjoyed performances from the cast of the school’s production of Les Misérables, a dance performance by pupils in years one and two as well as performances from the Primary phase and all-age choirs.

Adding to the celebration, Monmouthshire County Council was recently named “client of the year” at the constructing excellence in Wales awards, held a Celtic Manor on June 20.

As winners of the Welsh Ward, the council will now represent Wales at the UK-wide Constructing Excellence National Awards later this year.