Multi-Million-Pound School Improvements
Millions of pounds worth of improvements have been carried out at schools across the County Borough during the summer holidays, as part of the Council’s RCTinvest programme.
Students and staff return to the classroom this week for the start of the new Academic Year.
The £9m improvements range from complete refurbishment projects to roof renewals, kitchen refurbishments, new doors and windows, toilet refurbishments, lighting and electrical improvements, drainage improvements and much more.
The majority of the works, which form part of the Council’s ongoing commitment to invest in its educational facilities for the benefit of pupils and staff, have been carried out during the holiday period in order to minimise disruption.
This investment is on top of the Council’s ongoing 21st Century Schools programme, supported by Welsh Government, which has seen new schools already built with more planned across Rhondda Cynon Taf.
Councillor Eudine Hanagan, Cabinet Member for Education and Lifelong Learning, said: “I am delighted with all the improvements works that have been taking place at our schools during the summer break and it was great to see first-hand what is being achieved with the investment.
“Investing in our schools remains a key priority as we want to ensure our young people and staff can learn and work in the best possible environments.
“It is during the six-week summer holidays that we are able to take advantage of the down-time and go into our schools to undertake required maintenance work, with no disruption to the staff and pupils.
“They are now returning to school this week to reap the benefits of the improvements.”
Major school improvement projects include:
- £155k invested to upgrade classrooms to 21st Century environment and improve energy efficiency at Ferndale Comprehensive School
- £130k invested in refurbishment of Junior Block at Penywaun Primary School
- £400k invested in upgrading Science Rooms at Bryn Celynnog Comprehensive School
- £460k invested in the provision of new kitchen for Pontrhondda Primary School, along with a new extension for the Early Years classrooms and external improvements to the external façade of the school
- £200k invested at Park Lane Special School to provide remodelled classrooms and new changing/hygiene room for the Hydrotherapy Pool.
The £9m investment in schools taking place during 2016/17 is part of the Council’s wider 3-year, £200m RCTinvest programme which will see play areas, highways, leisure facilities, as well as schools, all benefitting.
Regular updates about RCTinvest are posted on the Council’s social media accounts – just search for #RCTinvest.
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