Revised school proposals for Llanilid site progressed by council

RCT’s Cabinet has considered revised plans for the future primary school provision for the Llanilid housing development. Members have agreed to consult on the new proposals – to establish a new Welsh Medium school, and to change Dolau Primary into an English Medium setting. The consultation is due to start this September.

A report to Cabinet on Wednesday, July 17, provided an update on the Council’s progress in responding to the future demand for school places that will be needed as the Llanilid development is progressed. In 2016, planning consent was given to a developer to build 1,850 homes on the former open cast coal site – along with community amenities that included a primary school.

Delays experienced by the housing developer in progressing the new school has meant the Council’s original proposal (consulted upon in 2018/19) must be revisited and reshaped against the backdrop of Welsh Government’s Cymraeg 2050 Strategy and the Council’s Welsh in Education Strategic Plan (2022-2032). In view of these national developments and in support of the Council’s commitment to grow the number of Welsh Medium learners, officers have revised the proposals to ensure there would be a dedicated Welsh Medium school in the area.

The proposals, if agreed, would be delivered no later than the 2027/28 academic year. They include:

• Establishing a new Welsh Medium primary school for 3-11 year-olds as part of the Llanilid housing development, with a capacity for 480 statutory school age pupils plus 60 nursery places.

• Changing the language medium of Dolau Primary School from dual-language to English Medium. It would have an increased capacity for 488 statutory age pupils plus 63 nursery places, delivered via small scale adaptations to repurpose current spaces.

Councillor Rhys Lewis, Rhondda Cynon Taf Council’s Cabinet Member for Education and the Welsh Language, said: “On Wednesday, Cabinet considered officers’ new proposals for the extra primary school provision that will be needed when 1,850 homes are built at Llanilid. The revised plans aim to further promote Welsh Medium education as the area grows in population, offering a brand new setting – while retaining Dolau Primary, which is a very high-performing school, as a continued option for English Medium education.

“The proposal would support the national Cymraeg 2050 vision for the Welsh language, while conforming to the Council’s own commitments outlined in our Welsh in Education Strategic Plan. Officers report that a new Welsh Medium school serving Llanilid would have a positive impact on children and young people of all ages, and it is expected that this new development will generate an increase in the number of pupils accessing Welsh Medium education locally. This ambition is aligned with targets and seven outcomes which form the basis of our 10-year Welsh in Education Strategic Plan.

“During the Cabinet meeting, Members gave formal approval to begin the relevant statutory consultation in relation to both proposals – to create a new Welsh Medium primary school and to change Dolau Primary into an English Medium setting. Officers will bring a consultation report back to Cabinet at a future meeting, which will inform a final decision on these proposals.

“If agreed, the new Welsh Medium school for Dolau would become the latest of our first-class education facilities – which we have an excellent track record of delivering. A major £79.6m investment in Greater Pontypridd will see new schools for Hawthorn, Cilfynydd and Rhydyfelin opening in September, on top of excellent facilities already being accessed in Beddau. We also opened a new building for Llanilltud Faerdref Primary in April – which will be followed by similar projects at Penygawsi Primary this summer and Pontyclun Primary in 2025. Ysgol Gynradd Llyn y Forwyn will also receive a brand new school.”
The new Welsh Medium school would have modern classrooms, fully-accessible and flexible facilities, extra space for Additional Learning Needs interventions, and areas for the use of Dolau Primary and the community. Modern outdoor spaces will support curriculum activities and improve traffic management.

The capital cost of the school would be met by the Community Infrastructure Levy, plus investment via Welsh Government’s Sustainable Communities for Learning Programme. The minor investment needed at Dolau Primary would be met from the Council’s core budget. Any further funding, for instance Home to School Transport costs, would be identified as the project progresses.