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The approval came from members of the Education, Skills and Wellbeing Cabinet Board on November 24th. The projects represent the council’s next phase (Band C) of investment under the Welsh Government’s Sustainable Communities for Learning Programme.

They are:

•    Llangatwg Comprehensive A replacement 11-16 Secondary school for 850 places and new 16 place Learning Support Centre (LSC). It is proposed to construct the new school on the playing fields of the existing site. On completion, the existing buildings will be demolished to make way for new playing fields and play areas. 

•    YGG Rhosafan A replacement 3-11 Primary school for 465 places (incl. 45 place Nursery) and 16 place LSC. It is proposed to replace the school with a new build 21st Century school to accommodate increased numbers of Welsh-medium pupils in the area. The replacement school will be built on the playing fields of the existing site. On completion of the new build the existing building will be demolished to make way for new playing fields and play areas. 

•    Tywyn Primary A replacement 3-11 Primary school for 465 places (incl. 45 place Nursery) and a 48 place LSC for pupils with severe learning difficulties (SLD) and profound and multiple learning difficulties (PMLD). It is proposed to replace the school and LSC with a new build 21st Century school. The replacement school will be built on the playing fields of the existing site. On completion of the new build the existing building will be demolished to make way for new playing fields and play areas.

•    Ysgol Gymraeg Newydd Dwyrain A new Welsh-medium 3-11 Primary school for 465 places (incl 45 place Nursery) and 16 place LSC Total 481 places. A review of Welsh-medium provision has initially identified the need to establish a new school in the East of the County Borough. The new school will provide for 465 pupils (including a 45 place Nursery) and incorporate a 16 place LSC. 

•    St Joseph’s RC School and Sixth Form Centre and St. Joseph’s Catholic Junior School A new build 21st Century 7-18 Middle School for 1,130 places and a 16 place LSC. The replacement school would be built on the playing fields of the existing sites. On completion of the new build the existing buildings will be demolished to make way for new playing fields and play areas.

The Welsh Government’s Sustainable Communities for Learning Programme (previously 21st Century Schools and Education Programme) supports capital build projects for new and replacement schools. Since 2014 the council has significantly benefitted from the funding, enabling around £200m of capital investment to be made in new school builds.

Welsh Government funding has been at rates of 50% for previous Band A and 65% (75% for Special Schools) for Band B capital schemes, with the remaining balances being found from the council’s own resources, substantively from its prudential borrowing capacity.

The following schemes have already been successfully delivered and occupied: Awel Y Mor (2013) Ysgol Bae Baglan (2016) Ysgol Carreg Hir (2018) Ysgol Gymraeg Ystalyfera Bro Dur (North and South) (2018, 2022) Ysgol Cwm Brombil (2018) Cefn Saeson Comprehensive (2021) and Abbey Primary (2022).

Cllr Nia Jenkins, Neath Port Talbot Council’s Cabinet Member for Education, Skills and Training said: “Projects proposed for this next phase of investment aim to address the poorest condition school buildings. There are many more schemes that will still need to be tackled with the support of future funding initiatives.

“Through these projects, the council will also seek to address Welsh in Education Plan targets to increase the number of pupils accessing Welsh-medium education, as well as addressing challenges of providing specialist education for pupils with Additional Learning Needs.”

See the Cabinet papers here: https://democracy.npt.gov.uk/documents/s82694/Band%20C%20final%20report.pdf