Plans for a major refurbishment and extension of another secondary school in Swansea, improving learning for thousands more pupils and their teachers, are set to take a big step forward.
More than £18m is earmarked for investment at Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Bryn Tawe to revamp part of the existing buildings, build a new teaching block for the sixth form along with pupils with additional learning needs, and to create new sports facilities including an all-weather pitch.
The new build will also be the first net zero carbon in operation building for Swansea and there will be significant alteration to the traffic arrangements which will improve the current parking provision.
It is part of the biggest ever investment programme for new and improved schools in Swansea, worth £520m jointly funded by Swansea Council and the Welsh Government.
The last decade has seen over £100m spent on seven new school builds and seven other major upgrades, with more than £400m worth of improvements planned for the future under the Sustainable Communities for Learning Programme.
The investment at Bryn Tawe will not only improve learning facilities, but will also increase capacity at the school and help to meet the growing demand for Welsh-medium education in Swansea.
At a meeting next week Swansea Council’s Cabinet is being asked to appoint a contactor to complete the detailed design and take the project to construction phase.
It is anticipated construction could start in summer 2026 and would take around 18 months to complete.
Cllr Robert Smith, Swansea Council’s Cabinet Member for Education, said: “I’m very excited that Bryn Tawe will be the next secondary school in Swansea to see huge investment in transforming the learning environment for pupils. It will improve facilities for all young people at the school.
“The new teaching block, which will be our first net zero carbon in operation building, will provide more suitable accommodation for pupils with additional learning needs and will also benefit sixth form students, encouraging more of them to continue with their education through the medium of Welsh.
“I’m sure pupils will be excited about the new sports facilities that are included in the plans.
“We want our young people to learn in modern and welcoming environments, and we have a proven track record of delivering major school infrastructure improvements as part of the largest ever school investment programme Swansea has seen.
“We have some really ambitious proposals for the coming years under the Sustainable Communities for Learning Programme and I’m grateful as always to our partners in the Welsh Government for their continued support for what we are achieving here in Swansea.”
