Increase in number of schools in a ‘bad’ or ‘poor’ condition

THE number of Merthyr Tydfil school buildings deemed to be in a poor or bad condition has increased over the past eight years.

A report due to be considered by the council’s learning scrutiny committee shows that there are currently nine school buildings rated poor or bad compared to seven schools in 2010.

It also showed that total backlog maintenance costs have increased over the same period by £500,000 from £5.4m to £5.9m.

The council is currently in the final year of a five-year condition survey programme of all its buildings between 2014-19.

The authority is aiming to have no schools in a”poor” or “bad” condition as it bids to gain access to money from the Welsh Government’s 21st Century Schools fund.

The council’s school building stock condition is rated from A to D with A being good, B being satisfactory, C being poor and D being bad.

In 2010, two schools (Afon Taf and Ysgol y Graig) were rated as being in bad condition, five as poor, 18 as satisfactory and three as good.

Backlog maintenance costs across all schools was £5.4m with £1.3m of this relating to two schools which were planned to be dealt with as part of the five-year programme.

There was a further £1.9m in backlog maintenance costs for the five schools rated “poor” meaning £3.2m or 58% of the required backlog maintenance related to just seven or 25% of the total number of schools.

This year there are still two schools rated bad but the council says it expects Ysgol y Graig to be rated good by the end of March 2020.

Ysgol Y Graig is currently at the final stage of the 21st Century Schools business case process and will be considered for final approval by the Welsh Government during September.

The percentage of schools with buildings in a satisfactory condition has reduced from 75% to 61%, whilst schools that are considered to be in either a poor or bad condition has increased to 11 schools or 39% of schools.

Afon Taf High School has been successfully refurbished as part of Band A of the 21st Century Schools Programme and is now in good condition with no backlog maintenance.

The current backlog maintenance across all schools (excluding Ysgol Y Graig) is £5.9m which is £1.8m more than in 2010, an increase of 44%.

But the council says this figure is likely to change as the local authority’s five-year condition survey programme 2014-19 is completed by the end of 2018-19.