ONE OF Penarth’s oldest special school’s is inviting past pupils and staff to attend an open afternoon before it closes its doors for the last time.

Ysgol Erw’r Delyn, which had its first brick laid in 1956 and opened in 1958, is set to form part of the new special school Ysgol y Deri in the Penarth Learning Community project.

The school will also be amalgamating with Penarth’s Ashgrove School and Barry’s Ysgol Maes Dyfan when it reopens in its new state-of-the-art premises.

An open afternoon will be held at Ysgol Erw’r Delyn on Thursday, October 2, between 1.30pm and 3.30pm for former pupils, parents and staff to share their memories of the school. There will also be a diary charting the history of the school and several aerial photographs of when it was first built.

Mrs Denis Newman, a teacher at the school for more than 30 years, has helped organise the day.

“When I first came here a lot of it was residential and we had three blocks where pupils used to stay overnight,” she said.

“There was a boys block, a girls block and a mixed juniors block.”

She said that the rooms had since been turned into classrooms and offices.

When she first joined there were around 150 pupils at the school, with many attending from all over Wales, but that there were now between 40 and 50 that attend on a daily basis.

She added that times had changed markedly since she’d been working at the school.

“When we first joined all the pupils had the same wheelchairs, but now they are all customised to their individual needs.”

She added that once all of the pupils had moved into the new school after the October half term Ysgol Erw’r Delyn would be demolished and replaced with sports facilities.

“It will be a change for us all. It will be sad to see the school go as it has been part of our lives for so long.”

She added: “We are very excited about moving to the new school though.”

Mahmoud Megrahi, one of the pupils of Ysgol Erw’r Delyn, said: “I’m a bit sad as I’m going to miss

the school. I’m looking forward to all the gadgets at the new school as it will make things easier for me.”

Ysgol Erw’r Delyn, which translates as ‘Acre of the Harp’ and was named after its shape, has the school motto ‘He who suffers conquers’.

Past pupils who need support should be accompanied by a family member or carer.

If you would like to attend the open afternoon please contact the school on 02920 707225.