More than £3m has been set aside to repair 120 schools in Rhondda Cynon Taf with some of the funds going towards creating outdoor learning spaces.
RCT Council has agreed a repair and maintenance programme for schools using £3.58 of Welsh Government and council funding.
The funds will also go towards providing a 45 schools with canopies in order to promote outdoor learning.
Read more: How children in Rhondda Cynon Taf can access free activities and food this summer
The funding will focus on seven areas with £700,000 dedicated to canopies for outdoor teaching areas, £300,000 towards improved ventilation in schools, £600,000 for new toilet and hygiene areas, £500,000 towards roofing works, £680,000 towards general building repairs, £500,000 for 21st Century classroom upgrades and £300,000 towards new windows.
The projects will focus on replacing windows and roof repairs as well as toilet refurbishments, upgrades to sports courts, external paint and replacing boilers. You can see the full detailed list of repairs planned for each school here.
The following schools will benefit from canopies, with some schools also being given new seating areas:
Aberdare Community School
Aberdare Town C in W Primary
Bodringallt Primary School
Capcoch Primary School
Caradog Primary School
Cefn Primary School
Cilfynydd Primary School
Coedpenmaen Primary School
Craig Yr Hesg Primary School
Cwmclydach Community Primary School
Cwmdar Primary School
Cwmlai Primary School
Cymmer Primary School
Dolau Primary School
Ferndale Community School
Hafod Primary School
Hawthorn Primary School
Llanhari Primary School
Llantrisant Primary School
Llwyncrwn Primary School
Llwynypia Primary School
Mountain Ash Comprehensive School
Pontrhondda Primary School
Pontygwaith Primary School
Pontypridd High School
Porth Community School
Rhigos Primary School
St John Baptist C in W High School
St Margaret's RC Primary School
Ton Infants School
Tonysguboriau Primary School
Trealaw Primary School
Trehopcyn Primary School
Williamstown Primary School
Ynysboeth Primary School
Ysgol Cwm Rhondda
Ysgol Garth Olwg
Cardinal Newman Comp
Ysgol Gyfun Rhydywaun
Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg Abercynon
Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg Tonyrefail
Ysgol Gynradd Gymunedol Gymraeg Llantrisant
Ysgol Hen Felin
Ysgol Llanhari
Ysgol Nantgwyn
The canopies have been introduced following the Covid-19 pandemic which showed a need for flexible learning spaces with well-ventilated areas and fit-for-purpose spaces and outdoor learning.
Councillor Joy Rosser, Rhondda Cynon Taf Council’s Cabinet Member for Education and Inclusion Services, said: “Cabinet Members have agreed the detail of a proposed additional programme of work across the Council’s school estate – which will deliver a range of projects from general repairs to upgrading classrooms and utilising existing outdoor spaces for learning areas.
“Cabinet has previously agreed to allocate £3.58m funding to Schools in April, as part of a wider investment for priority areas thanks to Welsh Government funding being topped up by the Council. This additional funding will complement our ongoing investment in the 21 st Century Schools and Colleges Programme and the School Modernisation Programme – and will ensure improved facilities are delivered for the benefit of even more staff and pupils.
“The detail in the report to Thursday’s meeting outlined how the new funding would be allocated, and Cabinet Members chose to agree the programme. I’m pleased that £700,000 funding will now provide new canopies at 45 schools. This has proven a successful way of utilising outdoor spaces to create learning areas – not only for Covid-friendly use in the pandemic, but as a permanent facility for use in most weather conditions all year round.”
