DEMOLITION OF GLAN ELY HIGH SCHOOL IMAGE GALLERY

Latterly known as Michaelston Community College

50 IMAGES

Glan Ely Comprehensive / High School was built sometime in the early to mid 1960s, on the grounds of a horticulteral nursery (where plants were cultivated and grown to usable size). Little is known about the exact time of construction, other than it doesn't appear on maps of the area up until at least 1964. In volume 16 of the Cardiff Yesterday series, there are photos of Glan Ely High School's (possibly first ever) sporting teams in 1966.^[REF]

There doesn't seem to be any information readily available about the school or that part of Ely throughout the 1970s or 1980s - but in later years, Glan Ely started to develop a reputation for being the roughest school in South Wales. By the early 1990s, it was one of the worst for standards in the whole country.

A half million pounds was invested in Glan Ely during the mid 1990s - which included a satellite system for downloading weather radar imagary in the geography block, and improved ICT facilities - but it wasn't enough; Glan Ely was facing closure having failed several inspections.^[REF]

In 1997, the school found itself at the bottom of the table for GSCE exam results again and absenteeism was a significant problem. By 2001, it had closed - but that wasn't the end. A year later - in the same buildings - the new Michaelston Community College started taking in new students, and for a while - grades started to improve.^[REF]

Unfortunately, by 2016, Estyn's inspections of the college showed that grades were dropping again, pupils didn't feel safe or supported, and the leadership was failing.^[REF] The college closed on 31 August 2017. Demolition started in 2019/2020 - but was delayed somewhat by the Covid-19 pandemic. It was during this quiet time, that I took these pictures.

Sadly, I was too late to capture images of the technology block, the main hall, walkway and gymnasium - but I did manage (over two 'running' visits) to capture some video and photos from inside the remaining blocks, that reminded me what the view was like when there were classrooms instead of an empty shell.

In 2024, the site - with the exception of one single small community building - has now been completely cleared and is ready for a new development - potentially a Well-being village.^[REF]