Cabinet has received an important update on the next schools that will benefit from major investment in brand new facilities, via the established partnership between the Council and Welsh Government. Nine exciting new projects are approved in principle and earmarked for delivery in the coming years.
Many multi-million pound school investment projects have been delivered across Rhondda Cynon Taf communities over the past decade and more, through Band A and Band B of the Sustainable Communities for Learning Programme (formerly known as the 21st Century Schools Programme). Find out more about projects completed in recent years on the Council’s website.
Several important projects have recently been delivered for the current academic year – including a £79.9m investment across Beddau, Rhydyfelin, Hawthorn and Cilfynydd, and new school buildings for Llanilltud Faerdref Primary, Penygawsi Primary, Pontyclun Primary and YGG Llyn y Forwyn.
A report to Cabinet on Wednesday, March 19, outlines the next round of investment projects in the capital programme. Local Authorities were required to submit a Strategic Outline Programme of proposals last year, and those in Rhondda Cynon Taf have received Welsh Government’s approval in principle – representing a funding commitment of £414m over six years.
The report notes that Welsh Government is transitioning away from the fixed band system of delivery, towards a rolling programme that will be delivered over a total period of nine years. Within this, several projects in ‘tranche one’ are expected to reach the full business case stage within three years. Design and development work has progressed on the following important projects:
- Ysgol Cwm Rhondda will receive a brand new school on its current school site. Professional appointments have been made within the tender process, which will appoint a main construction partner in due course.
- Ysgol Llanhari will receive a brand new school on its current school site. A feasibility and options appraisal has been concluded.
- Dolau Primary School will be expanded and a new Welsh Medium Primary School will be built nearby, to prepare for anincreased demand for pupil places brought by the future Llanilid housing development.Cabinet has recently approved the required school organisation changes for this development.
- A new Additional Learning Needs (ALN) school will be built on the former Council headquarters in Clydach Vale. This will create extra ALN capacity and relieve pressure on the four existing schools. Planning consent was recently granted and construction work will start very soon.
- Ysgol Ty Coch satellite site, Buarth y Capel, will receive a new block to extend the existing specialist ALN provision and capacity. Construction work to deliver this investment is planned to get underway later in 2025.
- St. John Baptist Church in Wales High School, Aberdare, will receive a new sixth form block to replace the temporary accommodation, which is in a poor condition. Work is planned to start on site later in 2025.
- Penrhys Primary School will receive a brand new building to replace the poor quality existing buildings. It will be built on the current school site. A feasibility and options appraisal has been concluded.
- Abernant Primary School will receive an extension to cater for the growth in pupil numbers as a result of the new housing development on the former hospital site. An options appraisal will start later in 2025.
In addition, the community of Glyn-coch will receive an innovative primary school and community hub, welcoming pupils from Cefn Primary School and Craig yr Hesg Primary School by 2026, with construction starting very soon. The exciting project is one of three successful proposals in Wales to receive additional funding from Welsh Government’s Sustainable Schools Challenge.
Councillor Rhys Lewis, Rhondda Cynon Taf Council’s Cabinet Member for Education, Youth Participation and the Welsh Language, said: “It is fantastic news that the Council has secured an in-principle funding commitment of £414m from Welsh Government, to deliver more first-class education facilities in even more of our communities over the next six years. Such investment makes a real difference to our young people every day, as well as their wider communities – and our partnership with Welsh Government has an excellent track record that stretches back to our very first ‘21st Century’ projects in 2011.
“The nine exciting ‘tranche one’ projects outlined in Wednesday’s Cabinet report are all in the initial design and development phase, and progressing towards delivery. The construction phase of many of them is due to start in 2025. It pledges our commitment to delivering brand new schools in Cymer, Penrhys, Llanhari, Clydach Vale, Glyn-coch, and at the Llanillid housing development – along with new facilities for schools in Abernant, Aberdare and Ynysybwl.
“These projects will continue to support our Climate Change goals, with all our new-builds aiming to achieve ‘Net Zero’ Carbon in Operation. The commitments also highlight our continuing efforts towards achieving the outcomes of our Welsh in Education Strategic Plan, and contributing to the ‘Cymraeg 2050’ initiative – as we plan investment in Welsh Medium education at Ysgol Cwm Rhondda, Ysgol Llanhari and via the opening of a brand new Welsh Medium school to serve Llanilid.
“On Wednesday, Cabinet agreed that officers will bring forward further reports for Members’ consideration as each of the ‘tranche one’ projects are progressed in the months ahead. The report also adds that early development work on further projects planned for ‘tranche two’ will be undertaken over the next two years – as we plan even more school investments into the future.”
Posted on 28/03/2025