Work on the first tranche of projects is now due to start later than first planned and will be spread over a longer period, with councils expected to fund a larger contribution than first envisaged.
The Welsh Government had originally planned to put up 70% of the funding for the 21st Century schools’ programme but told local councils a few months ago they would only be providing 50%. The councils were told to resubmit their education proposals taking this into consideration.
Local councils will now have to find the extra £700m of cash or scale back ambitions to deliver ‘mend and make do’ projects.
Funding for council priority projects has been extended over a seven year period rather than three first envisaged, followed by further fresh rounds every three years.
Martin Lipson, the former director of the 21st Century Schools programme, said the funding was to be welcomed if councils could find the money they had promised.
“I don’t think the councils have got the money that’s needed to carry out this programme unfortunately, because the original plan that we conceived was that local authorities would have to find about 30% of the costs of the project, leaving 70% to be found by the Welsh government,” he said.
Education Minister Leighton Andrews said: “Securing capital investment in these difficult economic times is essential not only for better education outcomes but for the continued support of our construction industry and the growth of our economy.”
Welsh priority school projects
| Anglesey | £7.9m | Primary school, Holyhead |
| Blaenau Gwent | £20.3m | Inc Welsh medium secondary school and schools in Abertillery and Tredegar |
| Bridgend | £45m | Inc six schools and special needs provision |
| Caerphilly | £92m | Inc work at St Ilan (Welsh medium) and Rhymney |
| Cardiff | £137.3m | Involves 25 schools, inc new Eastern High School |
| Carmarthenshire | £86.7m | Work involving 12 schools |
| Ceredigion | £32m | Llandysul school building |
| Conwy | £18m | Work in Caerhun, Llandudno Jct, Colwyn Bay and Penmaenrhos |
| Denbighshire | £73.4m | Inc Bodnant Community Sch, Cynwyd area school and faith-based secondary |
| Flintshire | £64.2m | Inc high school at Connah’s Quay and community campus at Holywell |
| Gwynedd | £36.22m | Inc work in Berwyn and Y Gader catchments, Groeslon and Glan Cegin |
| Merthyr | £17.1m | Inc work at Pen y Dre and Afon Taf high schools |
| Monmouthshire | £79.5m | Involves five secondary and seven primary schools |
| Neath Port Talbot | £93m | Seven schools inc Welsh medium secondary south of borough |
| Newport | £15m | Inc replacing portable classrooms at seven schools and reorganisation of four schools |
| Pembrokeshire | £150m | Work at nine schools inc county learning campus secondary school |
| Powys | £78.2m | Work at six schools, inc Gwernyfed Primary review |
| Rhondda Cynon Taf | £160m | Nine projects inc secondary reorganisation in Aberdare |
| Swansea | £51m | Work inc 10 primary schools, Pentrehafod Comp and review of post-16 provision |
| Torfaen | £81.6m | Work on four secondary and five primary, inc new Ysgol Panteg |
| Vale of Glamorgan | £21m | Work at Ysgol Nant Talwg, Ysgol Dewi Sant, Llantwit Major Comp and school reorg in Barry cluster |
| Wrexham | £22.3m | Work at four primaries and flexible learning zone at town secondary |
