Hundreds of pupils in Hawthorn, Cilfynydd and Rhydyfelin will return after the summer holiday to brand new, first-class education facilities fit for the 21st Century – as the Council and Welsh Government delivers a major £79.9m investment that will serve our communities for generations to come.
The start of the 2024/25 academic year represents an exciting new beginning for Ysgol Afon Wen, Ysgol Bro Taf, and Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg Awel Taf. The newly forming schools have benefitted from multi-million pound investments in brand new school and community facilities, delivered in partnership with the Council and Welsh Government’s Sustainable Communities for Learning Programme.
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It's been an incredibly busy summer across the three school sites, as the Council’s contractors put the finishing touches to the developments – so they are ready in time to welcome staff and pupils in the first week of September.
Councillor Rhys Lewis, Rhondda Cynon Taf Council’s Cabinet Member for Education and the Welsh Language, said: “The wait is almost over for Ysgol Afon Wen, Ysgol Bro Taf, and Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg Awel Taf, which will open their doors for the first time this week, welcoming pupils and staff to their wonderful new learning environments. Replacing old facilities with bright, modern buildings with such excellent facilities will give pupils in Hawthorn, Cilfynydd and Rhydyfelin new opportunities in their education every day.
“The three projects have been jointly delivered by the Council and Welsh Government as part of a major £79.9m programme – investing in our schools and establishing local hubs for the future. These are facilities that our young people, school staff, and communities absolutely deserve. A fourth project was also delivered within this investment, with Bryn Celynnog Comprehensive in Beddau having already received new school, sixth form and sports facilities.
“We have an excellent track record of delivering education investments with Welsh Government – completing a similar, multi-school investment across the Rhondda between 2018 and 2020, as well as more recent projects at Hirwaun Primary, Ysgol Rhydywaun and Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg Aberdâr. We also completed brand new school buildings for Llanilltud Faerdref Primary and Penygawsi Primary earlier in 2024, with similar projects planned for Pontyclun Primary and Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg Llyn y Forwyn in the months ahead.
“The grand openings of Ysgol Afon Wen, Ysgol Bro Taf, and Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg Awel Taf are the culmination of many years of hard work by many people. I’d like to thank the respective schools, staff and pupils, as well as our Council officers and appointed contractors – everyone came together to make this possible. I’d like to wish the three new schools the very best of luck for their openings and for their futures. I can’t wait to visit each school soon once the pupils and staff have settled into their new surroundings.”
Below is a summary of the respective investments for each of the three new schools, which will open for the first time at the start of September 2024.
Ysgol Afon Wen, Hawthorn
Built on the existing school site in Hawthorn, Ysgol Afon Wen will welcome all current pupils from Hawthorn High and Hawthorn Primary, as well as the English Medium stream of Heol y Celyn Primary. The new 3-16 through school has a capacity of 1,260 learners (including nursery pupils).
The development has provided a brand new 28-classroom teaching block for Key Stages 2-4, which is securely linked to the existing primary building. The new block has been designed to achieve Net Zero carbon in operation, and complements the external facilities that were delivered last year during an initial phase of work. This included a new staff car park, a coach car park and a pupil drop-off area.
Some retained facilities have been refurbished – including two science rooms and a number of pupil toilets, while improvements to external areas and outdoor learning canopies were installed for the primary school. Toilets have been refurbished across the lower school and the lighting and heating have been upgraded. Major £1m Welsh Government funding, via Community Focused Schools, has also been secured to refurbish an on-site youth centre, to be completed in 2025.
Demolition of the old high school block will now begin, to enable extensive landscaping work for the wider development. This will be completed during spring 2025. A new childcare facility offering Flying Start and Childcare Offer places will also be created using Welsh Government funding. This will open in early 2025.
Ysgol Bro Taf – Cilfynydd
Built on the existing Pontypridd High School site in Cilfynydd, Ysgol Bro Taf will welcome the existing high school pupils as well as learners who would have previously attended Cilfynydd Primary School. The new 3-16 through school has a capacity of 1,200 learners (including nursery pupils).
The development has provided a brand new area for primary age pupils, which includes modern classroom facilities that have been designed to achieve Net Zero carbon in operation. As part of the extensive refurbishment and remodelling of internal spaces, secondary learners will also benefit from much-improved areas – including new science, design technology, food tech, art, drama, music and ICT rooms, plus new generic teaching rooms, supporting areas, and a library.
Externally, works have included remodelling the car park, installing new EV charging points, providing a 12-space bus bay, and establishing a new drop-off area. The school also received a new ‘all-weather’ 3G sports pitch in June 2024, while the development also includes a new Multi Use Games Area. The improved sporting facilities will be available for school and community use.
The development will be completed by the time the school is brought into use from September 2024.
Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg Awel Taf – Rhydyfelin
The new Welsh medium school will welcome pupils from the Welsh Medium stream of the former Heol y Celyn Primary School, as well as all current pupils from Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg Pont Sion Norton. It will have a pupil capacity totalling 540, including 480 statutory age pupils plus 60 nursery places.
The pupils will use the modern building completed on the Heol y Celyn Primary site last summer. The impressive two-storey building is designed to achieve Net Zero carbon in operation and has 18 classrooms, multi-use rooms, shared areas, changing spaces, a hall, kitchen and supporting spaces. A new Multi Use Games Area and improved outdoor areas were delivered.
The second phase of the project has been ongoing over recent months, and the majority of the work will be complete in time for September. It has included the demolition of the old school buildings while providing new bus bays, a parent drop-off area, a staff car park with EV charging points, a cycle shelter, a grass sports pitch, improved outdoor play areas, an outdoor classroom, and a habitat area. There is also a dedicated room in the school for local community engagement.
The development will be substantially completed by the time the school is brought into use from September 2024, with no major works outstanding.
Posted on 02/09/2024