Ambitious proposals to invest more than £400m in new and improved school buildings across Swansea have been approved by the council’s cabinet.
The programme would be largely funded by Welsh Government with a local funding contribution including developer contributions and capital receipts.
The Welsh Government has asked all councils in Wales to submit their funding ideas and investment priorities for school facilities for the next nine years.
The new round of investment in children’s futures being proposed by the council is subject to Welsh Government financial support and approval.
The new programme will build on the success story of the last decade which has seen seven new schools built, major upgrades for seven more with three other projects still in progress.
Swansea’s proposals include options to increase the number of children being taught through the medium of Welsh and includes the council looking at creating new or improved Welsh-medium primary schools in four areas to ensure pupils do not need to travel too far to school.
There are already proposals in place for upgrades at Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Bryn Tawe which will improve facilities and increase capacity at the Welsh-medium comprehensive.
Bishop Vaughan Catholic School is in need of significant investment and, following discussion with the school and diocese, the preferred option is a new build on the site of the former Daniel James School in Mynyddbach.
Gowerton and Olchfa secondary schools have already been identified for investment and there is the potential for new projects at Bishop Gore, Pontarddulais and Penyrheol in the future depending on funding.
Investment will be prioritised for those schools that currently have the greatest condition and suitability needs and these could include Clydach, Dunvant, Blaenymaes, Portmead, Byrynhyfyd and St Joseph’s Cathedral Catholic primary schools, as well as YGG Bryn y Mor.
The council’s annual capital school maintenance programme will continue to reduce the backlog of repairs at other schools.
All proposals would be dependent on the level of funding available from Welsh Government and each one would be subject to individual business cases as well as further cabinet reports and, if necessary, consultation.
Swansea Council’s Cabinet Member for Education and Learning, Robert Smith, said: “We want our young people to learn in modern and welcoming environments by continuing to upgrade our school buildings in the largest ever school investment programme Swansea has seen.
“Over the last decade or so we’ve built seven new schools, carried out major upgrades at seven others with a further three major projects currently in progress.
“Welsh Government has now asked all local authorities to submit their proposals for the next nine years under the Sustainable Communities for Learning Programme.
“While we have already improved school facilities for thousands of pupils in recent years we want to secure as much further investment for schools in Swansea as possible.
“Our proposals have prioritised the current condition of facilities, suitability and sustainability issues as well as our commitment to grow the number of pupils in Swansea who learn through the medium of Welsh.”
