Welsh council to invest nearly £1bn in schools by 2033

Rhondda Cynon Taf Council has reported that almost £1bn will have been invested in modern school facilities across the county by 2033, through a combination of council and Welsh government funding.

It comes as a report to cabinet set out details of work completed since 2014, as well as plans for the next phase under the Sustainable Communities for Learning Programme (formerly the 21st Century Schools and Colleges Programme). The cumulative total of investment across the 20-year period is projected to reach £988m.

To date, £505m has been spent delivering projects in Bands A and B of the programme, with a further £414m agreed in principle for a new tranche of nine school projects. Additional complementary funding will extend to 2033.

Construction work is already under way on new schools in Clydach Vale and Glyn-coch, with further projects planned for Ysgol Cwm Rhondda, Ysgol Llanhari and a new Welsh-medium school in Llanilid.

The report also highlighted several complementary Welsh government funding programmes that have supported schools and childcare settings in the county.

These include the Community Focused Schools Capital Grant, through which the council has secured about £3m over the past three years, with a further £1.65m to fund nine more projects in 2025/26.

The Childcare and Early Years Small Capital Grants Scheme has supported 176 registered childcare facilities since 2022 with £1.4m in funding for essential works and equipment, while a separate childcare capital investment programme has provided £3.5m over the last two years for projects in Beddau, Penderyn, Mountain Ash and Hawthorn.

Through the ALN Capital Grant, the council has received almost £5m over the past three years to improve facilities at schools including Ysgol Hen Felin, Park Lane, Buarth y Capel and Maesgwyn Special School. A further £1.6m has been allocated for 2025/26.

Cllr Rhys Lewis, cabinet member for education and the Welsh language, said: “We’ve delivered 22 first-class developments across Band A and Band B in partnership with the Welsh government – and this year we’ve received approval in principle for further major projects to come.

“This represents a total investment of almost £1bn in our young people over a 20-year period – an unprecedented level and testament to the hard work of officers and our partnership with the Welsh government.”

He added: “Officers will continue to keep residents informed about the nine progressing projects across Rhondda Cynon Taf over the months ahead.”