£93m schools shake-up discussed by Neath Port Talbot council

There has already been opposition to the planned closure of Cwrt Sart school

Councillors in Neath Port Talbot are to be asked to approve formal consultation on a £93m schools reorganisation programme.

The council identified seven projects over the next six years which it says are in line with the Welsh government's 21st Century Schools programme.

They include a £40m "all-through" English medium school in Baglan and a £12m Welsh equivalent in Ystalyfera.

If approved, a consultation will be launched for each project.

The proposals include:

• A new £40m, "all-through" English medium school for pupils aged three to 16 in the Baglan area. Planned for completion by 2016, this would replace the existing Cwrt Sart, Glanafan and Sandfields Comprehensive schools and incorporate Traethmelyn Primary School.

• A new £6m English medium school for three to 16-year-olds in the Sandfields area. This would replace Glanymor and Tirmorfa primary schools, with completion planned for 2013.

• A new £12.4m, all-through Welsh medium school for pupils aged three to 18 in Ystalyfera. This would incorporate Ysgol Gyfun Ystalyfera and Ysgol Gymraeg Y Wern. Phased completion is planned for 2016-2018.

• Replacing St Joseph's faith secondary school in Aberafan with a new £18m school for 11-16-year-olds by September 2016.

• A new £7m English language primary school on an existing site in the Briton Ferry area, to replace Brynhyfryd, Llansawel and Ynysmaerdy primary schools. Completion is planned for September 2018.

• A new £3.6m Welsh medium secondary school to "be sited in the vacated and remodelled premises of Sandfields comprehensive school". Completion is planned for September 2017.

• A new £6m primary school at Coed Darcy, near Neath, with a planned completion date of September 2015.

The projects were prioritised by the council's Education, Leisure and Lifelong Learning Service.

The council said the proposals were "in line with the Welsh government's revised criteria of a match funding limit of 50% and focussing on reducing surplus places, dealing with poor buildings and greater efficiency in running costs".

The local authority said any consultations would include parents, staff and governors.