PLANNING approval has been granted for a brand-new, state-of-the-art Welsh-medium primary school in Sandfields, Port Talbot.
The new development will replace the existing Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg Rhosafan and the Tir Morfa Training Centre, which will be demolished once the new facilities are completed. Designed to meet the needs of up to 511 pupils, the school will include nursery and childcare provision, an Additional Learning Needs (ALN) unit, and part-day places for a Welsh Immersion Unit (WIU).
The contemporary facility will combine a part single-storey and part two-storey design and will feature a sports pitch, multi-use games area (MUGA), play areas, highway and access improvements, extensive landscaping, and associated works. The development will deliver high-quality teaching and learning spaces alongside modern sports and play facilities.
Adult education services currently provided at Tir Morfa will also be incorporated into the new school, creating a hub that serves both children and the wider community.
The project forms part of the Welsh Government’s Sustainable Schools Challenge Programme, which promotes environmentally sustainable school buildings that actively involve pupils and the community in their design, delivery, and management. The Port Talbot scheme is one of only three projects across Wales selected to act as a blueprint for future school developments.
It is also a key element of Neath Port Talbot Council’s Strategic Schools Improvement Programme (SSIP), which is committed to providing every pupil with access to high-quality education in modern, fit-for-purpose facilities.
Cllr Nia Jenkins, Neath Port Talbot Council’s Cabinet Member for Education & Early Years, said: “This marks a major milestone in our Strategic Schools Improvement Programme. The new development will provide a modern learning environment for pupils and incorporate adult education provision, all designed with sustainability at its heart.
“It will also support our Welsh in Education Strategic Plan, helping us grow and strengthen Welsh-medium education across the county borough. The inclusion of a Welsh Immersion Unit is particularly important, giving latecomers to the Welsh language the opportunity to develop their skills and fully access Welsh-medium learning.”
Construction is scheduled to begin in late 2025.
