Up to £2.3 billion is to be invested to expand and modernise schools across Wales.

The funding is being released by the Welsh Government as part of its 21st Century Schools and Education Programme.

The scheme has already seen £1.4bn invested over the last five years, with this first Band A funding concluding in 2019. The second £2.3bn wave of investment will comprise of two funding streams; one using traditional capital, and one using revenue funding, via a new form of Public Private Partnership called the Mutual Investment Model (MIM).

Proposed projects by local authorities and Further Education Institutions include;

• addressing growth in demand for Welsh medium education

• reductions of surplus capacity and inefficiency in the system


• expansion of schools and colleges in areas of increased demand for educational services

• address condition of educational assets

• making assets available for community use where demand exists

The funding was announced by Education Secretary Kirsty Williams at the opening ceremony of Ysgol Cybi, a new 540-place Welsh medium primary school in Holyhead delivered by £9.7m of Band A funding.

Ms Williams said: "I am committed to raising standards, reducing the attainment gap and delivering an education system from the ground up that is a source of national pride and confidence.

"The 21st Century Schools and Education Programme is one of the means to achieve this ambition and represents the largest investment in our schools and colleges since the 1960s.

"The first wave of funding provided though the Programme will see investment of more than £1.4 billion over the five year period ending 2019, supporting the rebuild and refurbishment of more than 150 schools and colleges across the Wales.

"This is why I am delighted to announce a second wave of investment for the Programme, which will begin in April 2019.

"We will work closely with our partners to agree the pace of delivery and put in place investment plans that are affordable and meet our shared ambition to create sustainable learning environments that meet the needs of our communities."

(LM/MH)