Ceredigion Schools benefit from Welsh Government Sustainable Communities for Learning programme funding
Ceredigion Schools have seen impressive improvements to their facilities and resources following Welsh Government Sustainable Communities for Learning programme funding (SCfL).
Four Ceredigion Schools have benefited from Band B funding from the Sustainable Communities for Learning programme funding:
• Ysgol Dyffryn Aeron
• Cardigan Primary School
• Cardigan Secondary School
• Canolfan y Môr, Ysgol Gyfun Aberaeron
Ysgol Dyffryn Aeron
Opened in January 2025, Ysgol Dyffryn Aeron merged three primary schools: Ciliau Parc Primary, Dihewyd Primary and Felinfach Primary in addition to re-locating the Language Immersion Centre to the site. It also created a Childcare facility for 2 to 4-year-olds, a new breakfast club and after school/holiday club therefore increasing the availability of childcare places in the area. In addition, a new Additional Learning Needs (ALN) resource unit was established and an all-weather pitch which can be used by the community.
The project’s total cost which covered four elements (the school main building and language centre, ALN Unit, Childcare, and Net Zero Carbon), was £16,300,000, with £11,670,414 being funded by Welsh Government grants, and the rest by Ceredigion County Council.
Cardigan Primary School
Cardigan Primary School has benefitted through a refurbishment and extension. This included constructing a new thirty pupil Nursery classroom with associated external spaces, two new classrooms, a link block with a staff room, toilets, main reception, offices, and a parents’ room. Two demountable classrooms were removed, a new lift and a new emergency exit for the 2-storey teaching block was added, the heating system was updated to be more energy efficient and cost effective, and a new compliant fire system was installed throughout the school.
The total cost of the project was £3,067,340, with £1,000,000 from the Reducing Infants Class size grant, £1,322,500 from the Welsh Government 21st Century Schools / Sustainable Communities for Learning Band B Programme, and the rest from Ceredigion County Council.
Cardigan Secondary School
Cardigan Secondary School received an extension and remodelling work to existing blocks. The works included a new 3-storey teaching block extension, comprising of eight classrooms, ICT suites and a studio, toilets, intervention rooms, faculty offices, and a circulation space. Additionally, an extension to create a purpose-built drama studio, extension to the dining hall, internal remodelling, and a first-floor extension to create 2 new state of the art science laboratories and student common spaces, additional toilets, staff room, a more secure main entrance, and a new energy efficient boiler. There was also some internal remodelling around girls changing rooms to bring them up to standards.
The funding helped move the school from a building category C to a category A/B school. The project cost was £5.8million with £3,770,000 from the Welsh Government 21st Century Schools / Sustainable Communities for Learning Band B funding and the rest from Ceredigion County Council.
Canolfan y Môr, Ysgol Gyfun Aberaeron
Canolfan y Môr centre is a specialist resource centre which specialises in meeting the needs of pupils with autism/ severe communication and socialising difficulties between the ages of 11 and 19 years old. The funding added a new horizontal extension to the centre with internal reconfiguration and refurbishment to the existing layout. A new hard play area and canopy were added along with a play/leisure area. A new sensory garden was created with fixtures to the perimeter security fencing, and a new reception office the school.
The total cost of the project was £1,401,180, with 1,050,885 from the Welsh Government 21st Century Schools / Sustainable Communities for Learning Band B funding and the remaining from Ceredigion County Council.
Councillor Wyn Thomas, Ceredigion Cabinet Member for Schools, Lifelong Learning and Skills said: “It’s great to see Ceredigion Schools benefit from the Sustainable Communities for Learning funding, which have helped make the resources available at our schools even better to help foster a healthy culture of learning.”