The Council and its contractor for the exciting Glyn-coch school development have hosted an event that marks the start of the project’s construction phase. Being delivered by autumn 2026, the school and community hub will be a truly sustainable facility, aiming to achieve accredited green build standards.
The celebration took place on Friday, May 23, with guests attending Craig yr Hesg Primary School, where the impressive development is being built. Initial enabling work started in March 2025, and the main construction phase has since begun. The project is at the forefront of sustainable development in Wales, and will contribute to the Council and Welsh Government’s shared climate change commitments. It is one of only three projects in Wales to secure investment via Welsh Government’s Sustainable Schools Challenge.
Craig yr Hesg Primary School and the nearby Cefn Primary School will jointly form a new English Medium primary school next year, for the community of Glyn-coch – with pupils and staff set to benefit from a multi-million pound new building. The wider development will include two Multi Use Games Areas, a grass sports pitch and playgrounds, a car park with 43 spaces, EV charging bays, and bike/buggy storage to encourage sustainable travel. There will also be three dedicated rooms for community use, and a Welsh language Meithrin.
The development will target green credentials such as Passivhaus Standard, Building With Nature accreditation, and WELL Building Standard – placing a focus on creating healthy environments for building users to help wellbeing.
The Council and contractor Willmott Dixon hosted an event on Friday, May 23 – including an update on the early stages of work, a site tour, and a traditional ‘turf-cutting’ that celebrated the start of the project.
Among the attendees were Rhondda Cynon Taf Council Cabinet Members, Cllr Rhys Lewis and Cllr Christina Leyshon; the Minister for Further and Higher Education and Member of the Senedd for the Cynon Valley, Vikki Howells; and the Member of Parliament for Pontypridd, Alex Davies-Jones.
Also in attendance were the Council’s Director of Education and Inclusion, the Council’s Service Director for 21st Century Schools, and the Elected Member for the Glyn-coch ward, Cllr Doug Williams.
Project update since the start of works
Since the first activity two months ago, initial enabling work has established the contractor’s hoarding and fencing, along with some tree protection fencing within the site boundary. Existing services on the site have also been located, while a pond area has been formed to manage water usage during the main construction phase. Work to the site’s main entrance has also progressed.
Currently, the main activity is progressing the ‘cut and fill’ process, which involves excavating and moving large volumes of soil around the site – to establish a base level for the development. After this is completed, work can begin to construct the foundations and ground floor slab of the new building.
Construction of the school’s new car park is also taking place at the moment. The contractor will aim to complete this as one of its initial tasks, as the area will provide adequate parking for the site team, machinery, and visitors – while providing space for the final phase of the site compound and welfare facilities.
Councillor Rhys Lewis, Rhondda Cynon Taf Council’s Cabinet Member for Education, Inclusion, and the Welsh Language, said: “I was delighted to attend Friday’s event at Craig yr Hesg Primary School, to celebrate the start of the construction phase for this fantastic new school and community hub for Glyn-coch. It was great to see the site in person, and receive an update on the development’s initial works from our project contractor. Overall progress has been excellent in recent months, with planning consent secured in January, enabling works starting in March, and the construction phase now underway.
“The modern school will provide a stimulating environment for pupils and staff currently attending Cefn Primary and Craig yr Hesg Primary schools. It will replace two older buildings with a state-of-the-art school that boasts first-class facilities, including excellent outdoor spaces for learning and play – providing new opportunities in our pupils’ education. Learning Support Classes, a Welsh Medium childcare facility, and a nursery, will also be included within the site.
“We continue to welcome such significant support from Welsh Government to help us deliver new facilities across the County Borough, which is making a real difference to our young people. In its successful bid to the Sustainable Schools Challenge, the Glyn-coch project has demonstrated how it will also provide key uses for the wider community, while the development will achieve accredited green building standards through innovative technologies.
“The Glyn-coch project is one of nine projects reported to Cabinet in March that are being progressed thanks to a £414m funding commitment from Welsh Government over the next six years – with the others earmarked for Ysgol Cwm Rhondda, Ysgol Llanhari, Penrhys Primary, St John Baptist Church in Wales High School, Abernant Primary, Buarth y Capel, and a new ALN school in Clydach Vale. This follows several projects that were delivered recently – £79.9m facilities for Greater Pontypridd and new schools at Llanilltud Faerdref Primary, Pontyclun Primary, Penygawsi Primary and YGG Llyn y Forwyn.
“We’ll continue to work closely with our contractor to make good progress with the development, while ensuring there is very limited disruption to the existing operation of Craig yr Hesg Primary School, and the wider community. The Council will continue to provide updates at the development’s key milestones.”
Learning at Craig yr Hesg Primary School will continue as usual, with the new building being built on land adjacent to the existing school. Phase one of the construction phase will deliver the brand new main school building, and phase two will demolish old buildings to create the development’s external elements.
You can also follow a fantastic new video blog created by pupils of Cefn Primary and Craig yr Hesg Primary, via the ‘Fern Criw’ YouTube channel, as they track the process of building the brand new school for their community.
Posted on 30/05/2025