Morgan Sindall Construction has been selected to build a £27 million new home for Cefn Saeson Comprehensive School in Neath, South Wales.

Neath Port Talbot Council has commissioned the project as part of its Strategic School Improvement Programme (SSIP). The work is being delivered under the auspices of the Welsh Government’s 21st Century Schools Programme. The scheme was procured through the South West Wales Regional Contractors framework.

The school’s 900 pupils will benefit from 48 state-of-the-art classrooms comprising creative workspaces, art facilities, and SEND facilities available for students with additional learning needs.

Construction of the new two-storey 97,000 square foot building is now underway. Work is taking place alongside the existing school, which will be demolished upon completion.

Cefn Saeson Comprehensive boasts an Olympic athlete within its alumni, and sports facilities feature prominently in plans for the new school; with four MUGA courts, an activity studio, and a 3G pitch.

Rob Williams, area director at Morgan Sindall Construction, said:

“We are very pleased to be working with Neath Port Talbot Council on such an important investment in its education offering.

“Providing modern schools fit for 21st century education is a key priority for the local authority, and the designs for Cefn Saeson answer that brief perfectly. The school has a rich sporting heritage and the new facilities will leave it well placed to inspire the next generation of promising athletes.”

Construction work is expected to complete in early 2022.

Cllr Peter Rees, Cabinet Member for Education, Skills and Culture at Neath Port Talbot Council, said:

“Our Strategic Schools Improvement Programme is a real statement of our belief in our children and young people, giving them the best start in life and helping them to be the best they can be.

“Despite the budget pressures we face, the investment in this and many other schools in the County Borough demonstrates our commitment to education, making sure the right schools are in the right place, and that they are fit for 21st Century learners.”

This latest contract win is the second major education project the main contractor’s Cardiff office has won in as many months. In September, Morgan Sindall Construction announced it had been appointed to the £29 million Whitmore High School project in Barry.