Pupils and staff at Pontyclun Primary School will return to a brand new, first-class learning environment following the half term break. Construction of a new main building for the school has recently been completed, following a major joint investment by the Council and Welsh Government.
The modern two-storey building is ready to open its doors for the first time, and will welcome pupils from Thursday, March 6. School staff will access the new facility from March 3, to prepare classrooms and other learning areas.
The moving in arrangements follow Phase One of the exciting project being completed. The new building will provide a capacity of 480 pupils (plus nursery places), and delivers a state-of-the-art environment that includes a central heart-space, classrooms for Nursery through to Year 6, a main hall, and supporting areas. The building will achieve Net Zero carbon in operation, conforming to both the Council’s and Welsh Government’s Climate Change commitments.
This major investment for the community is jointly funded by the Council and Welsh Government via the Mutual Investment Model, which is the revenue funding stream of the Sustainable Communities for Learning Programme.
Construction contractor Morgan Sindall will shortly begin work towards Phase Two of the project – which will be focussing on the external areas of the wider development. They will remove the temporary school accommodation from the site, demolish all of the remaining former buildings and establish the school’s new outdoor spaces, which will include building a two-court Multi Use Games Area, hard play areas, and parking spaces. This second phase of work is due for completion during autumn 2025.
Councillor Rhys Lewis, Rhondda Cynon Taf Council’s Cabinet Member for Education and the Welsh Language, said: “I’m delighted that Pontyclun Primary School’s brand new building is ready to welcome pupils and staff from next week, as we deliver yet another brilliant learning environment that will make a difference to our young people’s education every day. I visited the school in March 2024, joining staff, pupils and our contractors in celebrating the early stages of the development – and it’s fantastic to now see the finished school building, packed with first-class facilities and flexible learning areas.
“Our partnership with Welsh Government continues to deliver new schools across the County Borough, as we invest in our young people. As well as this project in Pontyclun, The Mutual Investment Model has provided new schools for Llanilltud Faerdref Primary and Penygawsi Primary, while the Sustainable Communities for Learning Programme also supported a £79.9m investment across Cilfynydd, Rhydyfelin, Hawthorn and Beddau for this academic year. YGG Llyn y Forwyn also received a new school site in January 2025, while we recently secured planning consent for construction of a new school in Glyn-coch – which is being delivered with additional funding that was secured via Welsh Government’s Sustainable Schools Challenge.
“With the new school building constructed at Pontyclun Primary, attention will now turn to developing the site’s outdoor areas – including a two-court Multi Use Games Area, hard play areas and parking spaces. Officers will continue to work closely with our contractor and the school to ensure the work progresses safely and efficiently towards their delivery later this year. I can’t wait to see the remainder of the project take shape in the months ahead – and I wish pupils and staff all the best for their exciting school opening next week.”
