The significant investment in Bryn Celynnog Comprehensive School is now complete, after a new staff parking facility was brought into use. It follows the delivery of modern classrooms and sports facilities earlier this academic year.
Pupils and staff at the Beddau school are enjoying the new classrooms and outdoor spaces delivered in the first phase of the project by November 2023 – funded by the Council and Welsh Government’s Sustainable Communities for Learning Programme, as part of a £79.6m investment for Greater Pontypridd.
Phase one delivered classrooms dedicated for sixth form students, and other modern facilities for pupils across all age groups. These include spaces for art and maths lessons, nine ICT suites, a gym, a fitness suite, and a dance studio. An improved bus pick-up and drop-off area was also built.
The Council’s contractor ISG has been progressing phase two works in recent months, and these were recently completed during May 2024.
The school’s former maths block, which was in a poor condition and was no longer needed following the phase one investment, has been demolished. The space has been used to create additional staff parking on site (pictured left), along with associated landscaping works. The car park also includes EV charging bays, dedicated car share spaces, and accessible parking spaces.
The Beddau school has recently started using these new facilities, marking the substantial completion of the Council and Welsh Government’s investment – with only minor finishing work continuing across the wider development.
Councillor Rhys Lewis, Rhondda Cynon Taf Council’s Cabinet Member for Education and the Welsh Language, said: “This investment for Bryn Celynnog Comprehensive School has become the first completed project within our wider £79.6m investment for Greater Pontypridd – which will also soon deliver brand new schools for Hawthorn, Cilfynydd and Rhydyfelin, that will open in time for the new academic year in September.
“We continue to welcome major funding support from Welsh Government to provide brand new education facilities within more and more communities in Rhondda Cynon Taf. Under the Mutual Investment Model, we also opened a brand new building for Llanilltud Faerdref Primary School in April 2024 – which will be followed by similar projects at Penygawsi Primary School later this summer and at Pontyclun Primary School in 2025. Ysgol Gynradd Llyn y Forwyn in Ferndale will also receive a brand new school.
“I visited staff and pupils at Bryn Celynnog Comprehensive School after their impressive new classrooms and sports facilities were opened in November 2023 – and it was fantastic to hear from the young people who were enjoying spending time in their new learning environment and talking excitedly about their school. The investment has also increased the school’s overall capacity, while achieving Net Zero carbon in operation across the new buildings.
“I’m delighted that the second phase of this project is complete, with the school now able to use the new staff car parking facilities. With both phases of work substantially complete, the Council and Welsh Government’s investment has been delivered for the benefit of many generations of learners to come.”
