THE next wave of 21st Century Schools projects in Caerphilly county borough will be considered by cabinet later this month.

More than £50million has already been invested by the Welsh Government into delivering improved educational facilities in the region.

The £25.5million Islwyn High School in Oakdale and the £8million Idris Davies School 3-18 opened their doors last year.

In 2016, the £20million Y Gwyndy Welsh school campus in Caerphilly was completed as part of the first phase of the funding programme.

And plans for a further investment of around £110million will be discussed at a special meeting of the education for life scrutiny committee on April 19.

The second phase proposals will then be considered by cabinet on April 25.

A full breakdown of the nine projects are as follows:

Project One - £4.8million

New build school to replace the existing Rhymney Primary School.

Relocation of Brynawwel Primary School pupils to the new Upper Rhymney Primary or Idris Davies 3-18 School Relocation of Ysgol Y Lawnt to the vacant Brynawel Primary School.

Project Two - £13.6million

New build school to replace the existing Tynywern Primary School on the Bedwas High School site.

Refurbishment of the existing Tynywern Primary to create a new Welsh medium primary school.

New build school to replace the existing Ysgol Cwm Gwyddon on the ex-Cwmcarn High School site following closure. 

Project Three - £11million

New build school to replace the existing Plasyfelin School on the current school site.

Expansion of St James Primary School

Project Four - £5million

Expansion of Trinity Fields Special School and Resource Base to satisfy future demand. 

Project Five - £1million

Creation of a new Pupil Referral Unit (PRU) to cater for increased demand for inhouse Education Other Than at School provision (EOTAS).

Project Six - £33million

£23million refurbishment of secondary schools and £10 million refurbishment of primary schools.

Project Seven - £5.8million

Amalgamation of Park and Gilfach Fargoed Primary Schools into a new build school.

Refurbishment of Park Primary School to accomodate the relocation of Ysgol Gymraeg Gilfach Fargoed.

Amalgamation of Llanfabon Infants School and Llancaeach Junior School.

Expansion and refuribishment of Llanfabon Infants School to accomodate the new primary school.

Project Nine - Secondary Municipal Investment Model (MIM - £28million to £32million

The size and nature of this project will be determined by a comprehensive review and consultation exercise in relation to the following areas:

• Sixth form education.

• Single Sex provision.

• Surplus Places within Caerphilly West.

Projects include new-builds to replace Upper Rhymney Primary School, Tynywern Primary School, Ysgol Cwm Gwyddon, Plasyfelin School and Park and Gilfach Fargoed Primary Schools.

In certain cases, existing school buildings such as Tynywern Primary would be refurbished and used to create new Welsh medium primary schools.

Some schools, such as St James Primary School, could be expanded to satisfy demand while others will be amalgamated under one roof.

Under the proposals, £23million would be spent refurbishing secondary schools and a further £10million on upgrading primary schools.

It is hoped the projects, which will be delivered between April 2019 and March 2026, will “significantly” reduce both backlog maintenance and ongoing energy costs.

Up to £32million could also be spent on new ways of delivering sixth form education and tackling surplus places in the county borough.

Cllr Phillipa Marsden, cabinet member for education and achievement, said the improvement of education facilities remain a “key priority” of the council.

Speaking ahead of this month’s meetings, the Labour councillor for Ynysddu added: “The projects being considered will bring similar benefits (to the first phase projects) and we are really excited about moving these ambitious proposals forward.

“It is, however, important to stress at this stage these are only proposals and consultation with all key stakeholders will be a critical part of the process as the plans develop over the next seven years.”