The Council will host a public drop-in event at Buarth y Capel in Ynysybwl, where the community can find out more about a proposed investment to significantly extend and refurbish the Additional Learning Needs (ALN) setting. The exciting plans would provide pupils and staff with modern, first-class new facilities.
Buarth y Capel is a satellite site of Ysgol Ty Coch, one of the Council’s four ALN schools. The site focuses on provision for learners aged 14-19 with a diagnosis of severe or profound Autistic Spectrum Disorder, who require a bespoke provision beyond the generic ALN school criteria. The multi-million pound proposals would ensure that the site can continue to meet the educational needs of these pupils into the future.
Residents are welcome to visit Buarth y Capel to find out more, at any time from 3.15pm to 5.30pm on Tuesday, February 3. The project team will be on hand to explain the proposals in more detail and to answer any questions, while residents will also be able to formally leave their feedback for consideration.
The investment proposals are being developed by the Council, in partnership with Welsh Government’s Sustainable Communities for Learning Programme. EPT is the appointed architect to design the building, while Knox and Wells is the appointed contractor to deliver the building.
The project will build a stand-alone, single-storey extension on the existing school site. It will include six classrooms each with their own breakout rooms, personal care facilities, toilets, and supporting spaces. The building will have renewable energy systems and be built to achieve Net Zero Carbon in operation. It will be constructed to 21st Century standards and will be a fully-accessible site.
The project will also include improvement works to the existing school, by increasing the size of the main hall, remodelling two classrooms, creating a community space, and refiguring the car park to increase the number of on-site parking spaces.
The overall project will significantly expand Buarth y Capel, supporting much-needed growth of this specialist provision that serves many local communities. If agreed and subject to planning, the new building will be ready to open in September 2027.
Councillor Rhys Lewis, Rhondda Cynon Taf Council’s Cabinet Member for Education, Inclusion and the Welsh Language, said: “It’s fantastic to see these exciting artist impression images as the Council progresses a major proposed development for Buarth y Capel in Ynysybwl, which will invest in a significant extension and refurbishment to the school. This will provide a first-class learning environment for our young people and staff members.
“The Council continues to provide investment to help create extra capacity across our ALN schools. From September 2025, Maesgwyn Special School received a £1.5 million extension with new facilities and modern spaces, and that followed a new Early Years setting for ALN pupils being established in Tonyrefail. In addition, the Council is currently constructing its fifth ALN school in Clydach Vale, Ysgol Cambrian, to open for the 2026/27 academic year, while Buarth y Capel itself has received refurbished rooms and new specialist therapy areas in the last five years.
“We continue to be grateful for Welsh Government’s support, not only with our joint investment in ALN schools, but across our mainstream schools as well. The Buarth y Capel project is one of nine new school investments being developed across the County Borough, as part of a £414 million funding commitment over the years to come. The new ultra-sustainable school for the Glyn-coch community, Ysgol Glyn-Coch, is also progressing well on site, while plans to heavily invest in new schools for Ysgol Llanhari and Ysgol Gyfun Cwm Rhondda are being developed.
“Everyone’s welcome to attend the public event at Buarth y Capel in Ynysybwl on February 3, to find out more and have their say on the project. The feedback will help us to refine the current proposals as we move forward with this exciting project.”
Posted on 28/01/2026