Swansea Schools in Line for £4.4m boost

SWANSEA Council's Cabinet will be asked this week to approve a £4.4m programme of improvements and safety measures for school buildings.

The work would include new buildings, renovation schemes, accommodation improvements and new sprinkler systems across a number of primary and secondary schools.

Councillor Mike Day, Swansea Council's Cabinet Member for Education, said: "The Authority is carrying out a number of capital schemes which are jointly funded by a number of Welsh Assembly Government grants.

"The total cost of our latest School Building Improvement Grant schemes and Sprinklers in Schools Grant schemes amounts to £4.39m in 2009 to 2010 and £100,000 in 2010 to 2011.

"The plans are part of the Authority's strategic education programme Quality in Education 2020."

The schemes include an £800,000 spend on enhanced accommodation and facilities at Birchgrove Primary School, a £750,000 spend on a new early years block at Llanrhidian Primary School and a £700,000 spend on enhanced accommodation and facilities at Gorseinon's Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg Pontybrenin.

Among those in line for sprinkler systems are primary schools Pontarddulais and Pentrechwyth, the latter subject to a technical assessment.

Other recommended works include £450,000 on enhanced early years provision at Pentrechwyth Primary School, improvements to electrical services amounting to £165,000 at Ysgol Gyfun Gwyr and £200,000 on further improvements to mechanical and electrical services at Olchfa Comprehensive School.

The Cabinet meets to discuss the issue on Thursday August 27.

In July it was announced that another Swansea school was to benefit from £8 million in capital investment.

Welsh Assembly Government Education Minister Jane Hutt said the funding for Cefn Hengoed Community School was part of a £165 million package for schools and colleges across Wales.

She said: "This specifically targeted capital investment will allow local authorities and colleges to progress with their reorganisation programmes, creating learning institutions that inspire while helping fulfil one of our key one Wales objectives."