Hundreds of pupils will soon benefit from a state-of-the-art learning environment thanks to multi-million pound plans to refurbish a Swansea school.
Proposals for the refurbishment of Cefn Hengoed Community School in Bonymaen include a new teaching block featuring hi-tech science labs, a range of computer suites and a drama studio.
Other features include modern, bigger classrooms and comprehensive wireless access throughout the building.
The £10 million proposals will also see the school become a community hub with facilities such as a new community library and a base for the police introduced on site.
The Welsh Assembly Government and Swansea Council are funding the scheme.
Cefn Hengoed School was originally built in the early 1960s but its electrics and heating now need replacing to bring the building up to modern standards.
The school was also initially designed to accommodate more than 1,200 pupils but the number of pupils has now fallen to around 650 and is projected to remain at the same level. This means money is being wasted on empty desks.
Disruption to school and community life will be minimal because of plans to accommodate staff and pupils at a separate teaching block while the scheme is ongoing.
Swansea Council’s Cabinet has now given the scheme the go-ahead.
The scheme is part of the Council’s QEd (Quality in Education) 2020 programme looking to improve the condition of school buildings, tackle falling pupil rolls and raise standards.
The award for the main build contract at Cefn Hengoed and a works timeline will be subject to a further report later in the year.
Cllr Mike Day, Swansea Council’s Cabinet Member for Education, said: “Cefn Hengoed Community School is in urgent need of refurbishment to bring it up to modern standards.
“These proposals will lead to a first-class learning facility and will allow us to tackle the issue of surplus places which is diverting vital funds away from pupils to empty desks.
“The completed scheme will benefit pupils and provide wider benefits to the community with facilities including a new library.
“Preparatory work has already begun and we’ll be phasing the work to make sure we can accommodate all the pupils on site during the refurbishment.”
