School Improvements Taking Place This Summer

From roof renewals to kitchen refurbishments, a whole range of improvement works to schools across the county borough are set to be carried out over the summer holidays as part of the RCTinvest programme. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The £9M improvement works will take place in a range of schools as part of the Council’s ongoing commitment to invest in its educational facilities for the benefit of pupils and staff. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

This investment is on top of the 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: “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. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The six week summer holiday is always a busy time as we take the opportunity to go in and undertake required maintenance and improvement works to our schools. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“This year we are investing £9M in making improvements to our schools with lots of work planned for the summer holidays such as roof renewals, kitchen improvements, new 21st Century classroom upgrades, toilet refurbishments and window and door replacements for the benefit of pupils, teachers and school staff. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“To give an example of the types of work being undertaken this year, £400k is being invested in upgrading Bryncelynnog’s Science Room to future proof the facilities for the new Curriculum for Wales & the schools’ external facade; £160k is being invested in the provision of new kitchen for Pontrhondda School, along with a new extension for the early years classrooms and external improvements to the external façade of the school; and £200k will be spent in Park Lane to provide remodelled classrooms and new changing/hygiene room for the Hydrotherapy Pool. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“With much of the work planned for the summer holidays it is hoped that disruption will be kept to a minimum and pupils, teachers and school staff will experience the benefit of the investment from September.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

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. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​