The second phase of the Penygawsi Primary School development has been handed over, greatly improving the site’s outdoor areas. It follows delivery of a new main building that pupils and staff have enjoyed since the start of the academic year, and completes the major investment for the Llantrisant school.
The school is one of three in Rhondda Cynon Taf to receive investment via Welsh Government’s Mutual Investment Model (MIM) – the revenue funding stream of the Sustainable Communities for Learning Programme. A similar project was completed at Llanilltud Faerdref Primary in 2024 – with the brand new building opening last April, followed by new external areas in October. Pontyclun Primary will receive its new school building in the coming weeks.
The new main building for Penygawsi Primary School was completed last summer, in time for pupils and staff to move in at the start of the 2024/25 academic year. It contains first-class facilities and spaces, accommodating two nursery, one reception, three infant and six junior classrooms – along with a main hall and various supporting areas. The school’s capacity has now been increased to 310 primary school pupils (aged 4-11) plus 45 nursery places.
The Council has announced that contractor Morgan Sindall handed over external elements of the development (phase two) on February 14.
Phase two has included demolishing the former school buildings, opening up the site to construct a new car park, two Multi Use Games Areas, a grass sports pitch, and a 40-cycle storage shelter. These new facilities are all now able to be enjoyed by the school – with the exception of the grass sports pitch which will be completed and seeded when weather conditions are more favourable and be brought into use during the autumn.
The completed investment has included a Sustainable Urban Drainage System, as well as local safer routes improvements. These have delivered pedestrian facility upgrades in the roads near the school, creating a safer environment for families and encouraging walking and cycling each day.
Councillor Rhys Lewis, Rhondda Cynon Taf Council’s Cabinet Member for Education and the Welsh Language, said: “It’s excellent news that pupils and staff at this fantastic school in Llantrisant can now enjoy much-improved external facilities alongside the brand new school building. Modern external facilities like these offer improved play and outdoor learning opportunities, and dedicated spaces for sports and leisure.
“We’ve received invaluable support from Welsh Government to deliver all three MIM projects. The Llanilltud Faerdref Primary investment was delivered last year, while a new building for Pontyclun Primary is progressing towards completion soon. The multi-million pound programme is helping us deliver more first-class schools that are fit for the 21stCentury, while conforming to our Climate Change commitments by achieving Net Zero carbon in operation.
“The MIM projects form just part of our investment in education facilities right across the County Borough, in partnership with Welsh Government. A £79.9m programme opened new schools for Cilfynydd, Rhydyfelin and Hawthorn for the 2024/25 academic year, while Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg Llyn y Forwyn in Ferndale received a new school site last month. We’ve also recently secured planning consent for a future new school and community hub in Glyn-coch.
“I’d like to thank everyone involved at Penygawsi Primary School – from our contractor delivering the project to staff, pupils, their families and the wider community. Providing major new school facilities comes with an unavoidable level of disruption and change in the short term, and I’m delighted that this project has had minimal impact on pupils’ learning – and the end result is a modern school that will serve the community for generations to come.”
