It’s the last week of term for many schools in Wales, and the doors of Willows High School are soon set to close for the summer.
While pupils and staff will return to the old build in September, in advance of moving to the new school post October half-term, the historic Willows bell has already made the journey to the new facility.
The new school located off Lewis Road, replaces the current Willows High School and builds on a rich educational heritage in the area that can be traced back to the historic Splott Road School, which first opened its doors in 1882.
A key link between past and future will be preserved through the relocation of the original school bell.
The bell once served the former Splott Road Secondary Modern which opened in 1950 and closed in 1967, when children moved to the then new Willows High School which opened in 1967.
The building was demolished in around 1971 and the giant bell which was displayed outside the current Willows High School, will move to the new site, providing a tangible reminder of the area’s long-standing commitment to education and community.
No change to school name
Residents will be relieved to hear that there has been no change to the name of the school, following a consultation programme in 2025 that saw pupils, parents and residents of Splott, Tremorfa and Adamsdown champion the historic moniker.
The school’s name itself reflects an important part of Cardiff’s history. Willows High takes its name from Ernest Willows, the pioneering airship designer with strong links to the area, whose innovation and ambition helped put Cardiff on the global map in the early 20th century.
This legacy continues to inspire the design and ethos of the new school and at the heart of the new building will be “The VIP Lounge”, a new community hub which will host a wide range of activities for pupils, families and residents, including wellbeing sessions, skills courses and community events, helping to bring people together and reduce social isolation.
New school, new logo
The new school does, however, come with a snazzy new logo, which is also rooted in the school’s identity and local context.
Incorporating the Triquetra Celtic knot, symbolizing land, sea and sky, elements which are integral to the area’s history. This intricate knot also visually mirrors the propellers on Ernest Willows’s pioneering airships capturing the spirit of innovation, aspiration and progress that Willows High strives to instil in its students.
Its interwoven design represents the multicultural community of Splott, celebrating the interconnection and harmony of different cultures and backgrounds within the school and its wider community.
I like the new logo (here’s the old one for anyone not familiar) –
Construction progressing well
Since work began in October 2024, the project has made significant progress and remains on programme. Delivered by Morgan Sindall Construction as part of Cardiff Council and Welsh Government’s Sustainable Communities for Learning Programme, the build is being carried out to high standards of quality, safety and environmental performance.
Once complete, the new Willows High School will accommodate up to 900 pupils aged 11 to 16, alongside a 30-place Special Resource Base for learners with complex learning needs.
A modern school for a thriving community
The new school will provide a state-of-the-art learning environment designed to support high-quality teaching and learning. Pupils will benefit from modern classrooms and specialist facilities including a sports hall, gym, drama studio, recording studio and outdoor sports pitches.
According to the press release, the development has been designed with the wider community in mind and facilities will be available for use outside school hours, ‘helping to strengthen local connections and increase access to high-quality sports and leisure spaces’.
That’s all very well to say in a press release, but as questioned in an earlier article, this will only truly deliver a full-size sports hall for Splott if there is a realistic delivery plan. An online and offline booking system, for example. Staff to open and close the building. A schedule of available booking times. Equipment rental perhaps. Otherwise ‘helping to strengthen local connections and increase access to high-quality sports and leisure spaces’ is simply PR spin and lip service to Splott.
I have emailed Councillor Merry and requested details of the management plan and/or booking mechanism for the full-size sports hall.
Back to the details released this week…
Investing in sustainable, inclusive education
Sustainability is central to the project, with the new school being built to Net Zero Carbon standards, supporting Welsh Government ambitions for greener public buildings.
The scheme is also delivering strong local economic benefits, including job creation, apprenticeships and extensive engagement with local young people through STEM opportunities.
Headteacher Chris Norman said:
“All of us at Willows are looking forward to moving into our new building in October. We know how vital it is that every young person feels they truly belong and this new facility has been designed to be an environment where our pupils can feel safe and valued, be inspired to believe in their potential and achieve their ambitions.
“For our staff, it is a recognition of their unwavering dedication and a renewed environment in which to continue transforming lives. For our families and wider community, it stands as a powerful statement that our children deserve the very best opportunities. As we look to the future of Willows High, it is gratifying to know that we have been able to incorporate elements of its past in the design.”
Cardiff’s Cabinet Member for Education, Cllr Sarah Merry said:
“It’s fantastic to see the new Willows High School taking shape and progressing so well. This is a major investment in the future of our young people and the wider Splott community. The new facilities will provide an outstanding environment for teaching and learning, while also creating a valuable community hub that brings people together.
“It is particularly pleasing to see that the historic school bell will move to the new site, ensuring that the proud heritage of education in Splott continues to be recognised for generations to come.”