Learners in Beddau are now benefitting from a significant investment in modern classrooms and improved sports facilities, and the Council’s Cabinet Member for Education has recently visited their school to see the fantastic new spaces.
Bryn Celynnog Comprehensive School has received brand new classrooms which are dedicated for sixth form students, as well as modern facilities for pupils across all age groups. These include spaces for art, maths and numeracy lessons, and two new ICT suites. The school is also benefitting from a new gym, fitness suite and dance studio, while externally there is a new and improved bus pick-up/drop-off area, and a new grass rugby field.
The development has required the school’s former gym and caretaker’s house to be demolished. The new buildings achieve Net Zero carbon in operation, conforming to the Council’s Climate Change goals and commitments.
The facilities have increased the overall capacity of the school, and were handed to the Council by contractor ISG in recent weeks. Council Cabinet Member, Councillor Rhys Lewis, visited pupils and staff on Thursday, November 23, to see how the excellent new facilities are now being enjoyed.
This investment has been jointly delivered by the Council and Welsh Government through its Sustainable Communities for Learning Programme – as part of a wider £75.6m investment across the Greater Pontypridd area.
Handing over the facilities represented the end of Phase One of the overall project at Bryn Celynnog Comprehensive School. Phase Two is ongoing, to demolish the former maths block and create additional on-site staff parking.
Councillor Rhys Lewis, Rhondda Cynon Taf Council’s Cabinet Member for Education, Youth Participation and the Welsh Language, said: “I was delighted to visit Bryn Celynnog Comprehensive to see the impressive new classrooms and sports facilities which are now available to the school. It was fantastic to see the learners enjoying new art, maths, ICT and physical education facilities, as well as the dedicated sixth form spaces – which are fit for the 21st Century and will benefit the community for generations to come.
“This development in Beddau is one element of the wider £75.6m investment in education facilities across Greater Pontypridd – with major schemes being progressed in Cilfynydd, Beddau and Rhydyfelin. We’re working in partnership with Welsh Government, via its Sustainable Communities for Learning Programme, to also deliver new school buildings in Llantrisant, Church Village, Pontyclun and Ferndale. Another exciting development is confirmed for Glyn-coch, using a separate funding avenue from Welsh Government.
“Thanks to staff and pupils in Beddau for welcoming me to the school on Thursday, and showing me around the new facilities. As well as the modern classrooms and updated gym facilities indoors, it was also great to see the outdoor improvements to the wider site – including the new rugby field which complements the 3G pitch and athletics track delivered in recent years.
“The remaining phase of work will see an old teaching block demolished to create extra on-site parking for staff. The Council will continue to work very closely with its contractor to achieve this with minimal disruption to the school site, and I look forward to seeing this project fully-completed next year.”
