Work starts on new teaching block at St John Baptist school in Aberdare

Construction of a new teaching block at St John Baptist Church in Wales High School in Aberdare began on Monday 2 November, Rhondda Cynon Taf Council has announced. The council expects the single-storey building to be finished by summer 2027, in time for the 2027/28 school year.

What is being built

The stand-alone block on the current school site will replace temporary classrooms the school had been using. It will have four classrooms, a multi-faith and community room and supporting spaces. Six extra car parking spaces, including electric vehicle charging points, are also planned.

Who is paying and building it

The scheme is being delivered with the Welsh Government's Sustainable Communities for Learning Programme. The council has appointed Knox & Wells as the contractor. Initial set-up work started during the October half term before the main construction phase began on 2 November. The council says it will work with the contractor to keep disruption to pupils and the wider community to a minimum.

What the council said

Councillor Sharon Rees, the Cabinet Member for Education and Young People, said she was pleased work had started to replace temporary classrooms "with modern, first-class facilities". She said the project forms part of a joint £414 million funding commitment with the Welsh Government for school investment in Rhondda Cynon Taf in the years ahead.

What comes next in the programme

Councillor Rees pointed to other projects in the same programme: Ysgol Cambrian in Clydach Vale, a new Additional Learning Needs school she said would open imminently, and Ysgol Gynradd Glyn-coch, due in February. Future schemes include new schools for Ysgol Cwm Rhondda in Cymer and Ysgol Llanhari, and a new teaching block for Ysgol Ty Coch's satellite site at Buarth y Capel in Ynysybwl.