Rhondda Cynon Taf Council has officially opened two major new education facilities – Ysgol Afon Wen in Hawthorn and Pontyclun Primary School – marking the completion of significant investment delivered in partnership with the Welsh Government’s Sustainable Communities for Learning Programme.
Both schools were formally opened on Thursday 12th February, with Lynne Neagle MS, Cabinet Secretary for Education, joining elected members, pupils, staff, governors, contractors and Council representatives to celebrate the milestone.
Ysgol Afon Wen: A New 3–16 School for the Community
Ysgol Afon Wen has been benefiting from its modern learning environment since September 2024, welcoming pupils from the former Hawthorn High School, Hawthorn Primary School and the English-medium stream of Heol y Celyn Primary School.
The development was delivered by Kier across three major phases:
- Phase One (2023): Construction of a new Multi Use Games Area (MUGA) for the Primary phase, and the creation of the main car park and bus drop‑off zones.
- Phase Two: Delivery of a new 28‑classroom teaching block for Key Stages 2-4, refurbishment of existing buildings, and improvements to outdoor learning areas.
- Phase Three (Completed April 2025): Demolition of outdated blocks, creation of a second MUGA for the Secondary phase pupils, outdoor classroom, additional parking, extensive landscaping, and resurfacing of the school’s astroturf pitch – jointly funded by Sport Wales and the Council.
In January 2025, the school also welcomed Blossom Early Years, a new Flying Start and Childcare Offer for Wales facility for children aged 2-5. The setting includes a fully equipped playroom, food preparation kitchen, cloakroom, nursery toilets and a secure outdoor play space.
Official Opening Ceremony
The opening event at Ysgol Afon Wen included:
- A warm welcome from pupils and Headteacher, Mrs Claire Crockett.
- A speech from Rhondda Cynon Taf Council’s Deputy Leader, Councillor Maureen Webber BEM.
- The unveiling of the official plaque.
Ian Rees, regional director for Kier Construction Western & Wales, said:
This project has given us the chance to create state‑of‑the‑art teaching facilities in Hawthorn, and it’s fantastic to see both staff and pupils enjoying them. We value our strong partnership with Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council and are delighted to be building on this relationship as we continue working together in the months ahead.
Pontyclun Primary School: A Modern, Net‑Zero Learning Environment
Pontyclun Primary School is now fully enjoying its new state‑of‑the‑art building, completed in March 2025 and designed to achieve Net Zero carbon in operation, supporting both Council and Welsh Government climate commitments.
The new two‑storey school accommodates 480 pupils plus nursery places, and features:
- A central heart‑space
- Classrooms from Nursery to Year 6
- A main hall and supporting learning areas
Following completion of the main building, construction contractor Morgan Sindall delivered Phase Two, transforming the external areas.
This phase included:
- Removal of temporary accommodation and older buildings
- A new two‑court MUGA
- Hard and soft play areas
- An outdoor classroom and seating areas
- A staff and visitor car park
- New ‘trim trail’ play equipment
This investment was jointly funded by the Council and Welsh Government through the Mutual Investment Model, the revenue funding stream of the Sustainable Communities for Learning Programme. Pontyclun Primary School was part of a contract which saw the successful delivery of three new primary schools in partnership with WEPCo, with Morgan Sindall Construction delivering the construction element of the project and Robertson FM undertaking the ongoing building maintenance.
The celebration at Pontyclun Primary School included all the pupils who performed songs and poetry readings. A video montage of the construction was also shown, with speeches from Cllr Maureen Webber BEM, Rhondda Cynon Taf Council’s Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Council Business, and Lynne Neagle MS. The ceremony culminated in the unveiling of a plaque to commemorate the occasion and a tour of the school.
These two flagship developments represent a major milestone for education in Rhondda Cynon Taf and continued significant investment in high‑quality, modern learning environments for children and young people across the county borough. The Council extends its thanks to all contractors, partners, staff, pupils and families who contributed to the successful delivery of these projects.
Cllr Maureen Webber BEM, Rhondda Cynon Taf Council’s Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Council Business said:
These fantastic new facilities at Ysgol Afon Wen and Pontyclun Primary School represent a major step forward for education in Rhondda Cynon Taf. We are committed to giving every child the very best start in life, and these modern, inspiring learning environments will benefit pupils, families and staff for generations to come. It has been wonderful to celebrate these openings alongside the school communities, who have shown such pride, enthusiasm and excitement for their new schools.
