Swansea Council has landed a grant of more than £15 million that will revitalise and transform Morriston Comprehensive School to make it fit for the 21st century.
Funding announced by the Welsh Assembly Government on Wednesday (July 14) means that building work on the £21m project that’s part-funded by the Council will kick-off next year.
When complete it’ll be one of the most modern schools in Wales that will boast wi-fi in every classroom and other cutting-edge facilities.
The buildings will include environmental and design innovations that will lead to a reduction in running costs, energy consumption and carbon emissions.
Cllr Mike Day, Swansea Council Cabinet Member for Education, said: “This is a terrific result for Morriston, the communities of east Swansea and the authority’s QEd 2020 programme. It’s the biggest grant for a single school improvement project there’s been in Swansea.
“Children come first in Swansea and the Welsh Assembly Government’s backing for the revitalisation of Morriston Comprehensive is hugely welcome. I also see it as an endorsement of the way the Council is managing the issues around the backlog of maintenance at our schools.”
Building work will take around two years to complete and will involve the re-building of some existing substandard blocks and the refurbishing and re-modelling of others. The neighbouring Morriston Leisure Centre will not be affected by the redevelopment of the school.
The bid to the Welsh Assembly Government was prioritised due to the significant backlog maintenance requirements at the school that have resulted in a major business continuity risk.
Wayne Newton, head teacher at the 1,100-pupil school, said he was thrilled by the news.
He said: “It is a considerable sum and will make a dramatic difference to the whole school.
“It will give the young people of Morriston the opportunity to be educated in first class school facilities that will allow them to access a 21st century curriculum and facilities which will enable them to reach their full potential.
“We couldn’t have reached this stage without the tremendous amount of work undertaken by officers of Swansea Council.”
