City comprehensive prepares for multi-million pound investment

Preparation work for a multi-million pound upgrade of Pentrehafod Comprehensive could get underway within weeks.

Swansea Council’s Cabinet is being asked to give the go-ahead for pre-construction works to start during the summer holidays.

Relocating the car park to the front of the school will ensure pupils can move around the site safely during the construction period.

This work will pave the way for a £12 million improvement programme on the site once Welsh Government gives full approval for funding and planning permission is agreed.

This investment would provide classrooms fit for 21st century learning to further support existing work at the school to enable pupils to reach their full potential.

Cllr Jen Raynor, Cabinet member for Education, said: “Pentrehafod Comprehensive is an improved school where the hard work of staff alongside support and challenge from the Council has resulted in better education and better pupil attainment.

“Once the refurbishments have been completed the school will benefit from more defined faculty areas which support the pupils continuing attainment.

“We now need to support that hard work by making sure the school has facilities fit for purpose which can equip and inspire teachers and youngsters so it can continue to develop.

“It’s all part of our QEd programme to improve school environments to drive up standards and outcomes.”

The proposal to improve Pentrehafod’s facilities got outline backing from Welsh Government earlier this year.

This enabled Swansea Council to appoint and work with developers Morgan Sindall to draw up the final detailed refurbishment, remodelling, and extension proposal.

As well as improved facilities across the school, the project includes a new changing and classroom block. This new unit would be part-funded through Schools Challenge Cymru funding of £150,000 and be available to the community out of school hours.

The proposals also include demolishing existing out-dated and expensive to maintain demountable buildings on the site.

On June 16th Cabinet members will be asked to agree to developers utilising the school summer holiday period to undertake preparation works for the upgrade. The hope is that it will minimise disruption to learning and enable the main project to get underway as soon as possible in the new school year.

The Pentrehafod project will be the latest project within Swansea Council’s QEd programme to improve school environments to drive up standards and outcomes.

The QEd programme has already seen building replacements and upgrades at Morriston Comprehensive, new schools opened for Burlais and Gowerton Primary and new classrooms at Newton and Glyncollen.

The new Lôn Las Primary school project is currently underway as well.

All projects have been jointly funded by Swansea Council and Welsh Government.