The Cabinet Member for Education and Young People has visited Ysgol Gyfun Cwm Rhondda in Cymer, to mark the first works towards delivering an exciting, multi-million pound investment for the school – and to celebrate the Council’s major ongoing commitment to invest in Welsh language education.
Councillor Sharon Rees was welcomed by the school’s headteacher, Craig Spanswick, at the start of the new school year, after enabling works got underway over the summer to demolish two existing teaching blocks. The works are ongoing, in preparation for the main development in the future – and is being delivered with minimal disruption to pupils’ education.
Ysgol Gyfun Cwm Rhondda will receive a brand-new, fully accessible 11-19 Welsh Medium school on the current site, replacing the existing buildings and creating first-class facilities for up to 900 pupils (including 150 sixth form pupils). Plans for the development include new outdoor areas and improved sports facilities that will be available for both school and community use.
The investment will be delivered with Welsh Government through the Sustainable Communities for Learning Programme. The development received full planning consent earlier this year. It will significantly increase the Welsh Medium language places available for local communities, conforming to the outcomes of the Council’s Welsh in Education Strategic Plan (WESP).
On her visit, Councillor Rees visited the school and saw for herself these initial works making progress. She also discussed the exciting opportunities that the future development will bring for local Welsh Medium education learners.
Councillor Sharon Rees, Rhondda Cynon Taf Council’s Cabinet Member for Education and Young People, said: “I was very pleased to visited Ysgol Gyfun Cwm Rhondda early on in the new academic year, to see the work that has been completed over the summer holiday to demolish teaching blocks – the first works on site towards delivering a modern, first-class development with brand new facilities over the coming years. It is also fantastic that this project is coinciding with the school’s 40th anniversary celebrations in 2028.
“We are absolutely committed to investing in Welsh Medium education, as we encourage more families to choose learning in the Welsh language. In 2022, we delivered brand new facilities at Ysgol Rhydywaun in Penywaun and Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg Aberdâr in Cwmdare, increasing their capacities. Following on, we invested in a new Welsh Medium primary school in Rhydyfelin, Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg Awel Taf, which opened in 2024 – plus a state-of-the-art school site for Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg Llyn y Forwyn in Ferndale in 2025.
“We’re now focusing on the next round of investment for the coming years, as part of a £414 million pound funding commitment with Welsh Government. Within this is the impressive future development for Ysgol Gyfun Cwm Rhondda, along with a new 3-19 school plus meithrin for Ysgol Llanhari – with a planning application submitted for this development. All these investments show our Welsh in Education Strategic Plan in action, and reiterate our commitment to the ‘Cymraeg 2050’ goal of one million Welsh speakers.
“These are very exciting times for Ysgol Gyfun Cwm Rhondda, and I’m delighted to celebrate the important milestone of the first works on site. The Council is working hard to arrange the main development phase. I’m looking forward to returning to see the site further transform in the near future.”
Craig Spanswick, headteacher of Ysgol Gyfun Cwm Rhondda, added: “Seeing construction begin on our new school is a proud and exciting moment for us. This is a substantial investment in Welsh-medium education by Rhondda Cynon Taf Council, and one that will transform opportunities for our learners, providing a modern learning environment and inspiring facilities where young people can thrive and achieve their full potential.”
Find out more about our ongoing investment in new education facilities for our schools, via the dedicated #TransformingRCT webpages.
Posted on 11/09/2026