Ambitious £400m plans to transform education in Caerphilly County Borough have been discussed by councillors.
In March this year, the Welsh Assembly Government announced a shake-up in the way new school buildings were funded with more emphasis on wider strategic planning.
As part of the Assembly Government’s 21st Century Schools Programme, councils have to submit plans for investment for all of their schools, colleges and centres of learning to the Assembly Government.
Council leader Lindsay Whittle said: “We have the opportunity to transform the way we teach our young people in the future and raise standards in local schools by embracing a radical new vision that will create schools that are fit for the 21st Century.
“The ambitious proposals set out in our Strategic Outline Programme considers a range of options to help ensure we are in a position to continue to provide first class education to all learners, by creating a generation of 21st Century schools”.
“In particular, we must also consider solutions to address the ever growing number of children opting for Welsh medium education. Our Strategic Outline Programme provides a number of options for how demand could be met and indeed improve the long term future for Welsh medium education in the Caerphilly county borough.”
The proposals will now be put forward to the Welsh Assembly Government for consideration subject to approval from full council.
Cllr Whittle continued: “The key benefits that could be realised as part of our £400m package of proposals to transform education in our county borough include improvements in the condition of school buildings, facilities and accommodation to meet the needs of learners, creating a substantial reduction in surplus school places, increased energy efficiency, reduced carbon emissions and annual revenue savings of up to £3m each year.
“Although in relative terms this initiative is still in its infancy, I am confident that this programme of proposals will provide us with an excellent platform to achieve modern, fit for purpose teaching and learning environments for all learners in our county borough for many years to come”.