Anglesey's £10m special needs school opens

The two-storey building makes use of the sloping gradient of the site

A £10m special needs school with a hydrotherapy pool and sloping corridors has opened on Anglesey.

Canolfan Addysg Y Bont in Llangefni has no lift of stairs but uses the site's natural gradient.

Other "green" credentials include a wood pellet biomass boiler and photovoltaic panels.

The two-storey building replaces the former Ysgol y Bont for students aged three to 19.

Head teacher Andreas Huws said: "For both pupils and staff, this entire process has been a very exciting experience, as we were given the opportunity to view the site at different stages of its design and build.

"From the very beginning, the children have had a strong voice in how their new school should look, and through the school council, their ideas and suggestions helped to shape the building's design."

Anglesey council leader Councillor Ieuan Williams said: "This has been a ground-breaking project for the local authority and hugely exciting for everyone associated with Ysgol y Bont.

The school has a hydrotherapy pool

The Welsh government gave £7.7m to the school's construction.

Opening the school on Thursday, Education Minister Huw Lewis said: "I'm pleased that this excellent new eco-friendly school is the result of collaboration between a range of partners, all with a shared interest in the education of Anglesey's special needs learners.

"This close cooperation has resulted in a building and facilities that will benefit young people on the island for years to come."