School officially opens after £24m makeover
A SCHOOL fitted with state-of-the-art facilities has officially opened after a huge £24m facelift.
Y Pant Comprehensive near Pontyclun, Rhondda Cynon Taf, has undergone massive improvements.
The school has been “futureproofed” with new science, art, food technology and design technology teaching spaces.
It is also equipped to offer digital learning, as well as having a lecture theatre, modern dining facilities, a new learning resource centre, a main hall and a sixth-form area complete with a coffee shop.
The investment comes after the school’s facilities were said to be housed in “poor and unsuitable buildings”.
First Minister Carwyn Jones officially opened the new-look school.
He said: “It is my privilege as First Minister to officially open the fantastic new Y Pant Comprehensive School, which has been supported with nearly £12m from the Welsh Government.
“It has been good to speak with pupils and hear first hand how the state-of-the-art facilities are helping them learn, feel inspired and get the most out of the school day.”
Mick Antoniw, AM for Pontypridd, said the opening marked the “end of years of campaigning” for a new school.
He added: “I’m honoured to have played a part in securing 21st Century Schools funding for the project.
“The Welsh Labour government is delivering the biggest schools investment programme since the 1960s and our partnership with RCT council continues to deliver real improvements to our educational infrastructure.”
Plans were first announced in September 2014, while planning permission was granted in February 2015.
The £24.1m development also includes a multi-use games area and all-weather, floodlit 3G pitch, and two grass pitches for football and rugby.
A new teaching block has been built to allow the school to expand to 1,600 pupils in the future.
It’s the latest development in RCT council’s vision to improve education in the area.
Councillor Joy Rosser, cabinet member for education and lifelong learning, said: “It is wonderful to celebrate the completion of the council’s latest 21st Century Schools project, which once again highlights our commitment to education across the county borough.
“The investment in the new school for Y Pant, jointly funded by Welsh Government has seen dilapidated buildings and temporary inefficient portable cabins replaced by state-ofthe-art facilities fit for the 21st century.”
She said the local authority was proud of the project, and that it would benefit young people in and around Pontyclun both now and in the future.
She added: “Y Pant is the latest school to benefit from this investment and positive progress continues to be made with 21st Century School programme projects in Porth, Treorchy, Tonypandy, Ferndale, Tonyrefail and Cwmaman; while a further bid for funding has been submitted to Welsh Government to deliver improvements to schools across the county.”