Carmarthenshire is celebrating

Carmarthenshire is celebrating after receiving another £86million for investment in schools.

The funding was announced by Welsh Government Education Minister Leighton Andrews through the 21st Century schools programme. The programme starts in 2013, and it means Carmarthenshire can fully fund its Modernising Education Programme up until 2020.

 

Further new schools will be built and major refurbishments carried out at a number of locations across the county including Carreg Hirfaen, Seaside, Burry Port, Ammanford, Dyffryn Cothi, Trimsaran and Llandeilo. A number of secondary schools are also in line for improvements.

The news was welcomed today by leading councillors and officers. Leader Cllr Meryl Gravell said: “This is fantastic news for Carmarthenshire and for our schools. It is due to the hard work and efforts of our Chief Executive and officers that we are in this strong position to be able to deliver our schools programme. We are absolutely delighted with this funding which means we will now be able to deliver all the projects identified in Band A. There is no doubt that an improved environment for children leads to improved performance and behaviour, and the best environment we can provide is what every child in Carmarthenshire deserves.”

By the end of this financial year, Carmarthenshire will have spent almost £128million on its Modernising Education Programme, building six new primary and one secondary school, and extending or refurbishing 33 others. Two new schools have just opened their doors in Llanelli at Ysgol y Felin and Brynsierfel.

Plans are in progress, also supported by Welsh Government funding, for a new secondary school and improvements to other secondary schools in the Dinefwr area, and for a new Welsh medium school at Ysgol Ffwrnes. The total investment in Carmarthenshire by the Welsh Government and the County Council over the next seven years, including the £86million announced today, will be £151million.

Education executive board member Cllr Gwynne Wooldridge said: “Our children and teachers deserve the best and that is what we aim to deliver through our Modernising Education Provision programme. Hundreds and hundreds of children now enjoy high quality provision, and this funding means that thousands more will have access to first class facilities, offering fantastic opportunities to our young pupils which will stand them in good stead for the rest of their lives.”