Cowbridge Comprehensive School Vale of Glamorgan building, Welsh education project design, Property

Cowbridge Comprehensive, Wales : Welsh School Building

Vale of Glamorgan Education Development Wales, UK design by HLM Architects

post updated 1 March 2026

Dates built: 2009 – 10

Architects: HLM Architects

Client: Vale of Glamorgan Council

Value: £21 million

Type: NEC

image from architect

Cowbridge Comprehensive School Building

Project Description

Cowbridge Comprehensive School lies in a very rural location just outside the market town of Cowbridge. It is the first of three secondary schools to be developed by the Vale of Glamorgan Council with funding from the Welsh Assembly Government.

The new school building will accommodate 1550 pupils including a large 6^th form intake of 350 students. Construction began in January 2009 and was compled in time for the new academic year of 2010.

HLM have developed a new master plan for the site; ensuring efficient connectivity between the new and retained buildings. The segregation of main vehicular and pedestrian routes permits a new point of arrival at the very heart of the development.

From this point, entry to the new school will be via a bridge to the middle floor; ensuring quick and efficient access to all departments. Culture, Health and learning will be immediately evident at this point; where the visitor will see the theatrical Main Hall, activities in the Sports Hall and the collection of books in the Learning Resource Area.

photos from the architect