FUNDING for the next stage of the Vale of Glamorgan Council’s 21st Century Schools Programme has risen to nearly £144 million, which means a Penarth school will get more provisions for pupils.

Proposals which were agreed by the council's cabinet on Monday mean that the increased funding for Band B of the 21st Century Schools programme will ensure a greater number of children with learning needs can be accommodated at Ysgol y Deri.

The first phase of the scheme, known as Band A, saw £31 million committed to six projects: Penarth Learning Community, Ysgol Gymraeg Nant Talwg, Ysgol Gymraeg Gwaun Y Nant and Oak Field Primary School, Ysgol Gymraeg Dewi Sant, Llantwit Learning Community and Colcot Primary School.

Band B will see even greater spending with the level of investment rising to nearly £144 million after the Welsh Government committed more money to the project. They are contributing £84.567 million, with the council making up the other £59.337 million.

In the 21st Century Schools Programme 21st Century Schools Programme - Band B Update and Current Position report, it states: "Ysgol y Deri was designed for approximately 205 pupils on opening in 2014. The number of children requiring a place at the school has grown year on year and has now reached 262.

"Adaptations have been made to increase classroom space at the school, however despite this projections indicate that by 2020 there would be around 300 pupils requiring a place and the school would not have sufficient capacity to meet this demand unless additional capital investment is made to increase capacity. It is proposed that funding is allocated for the expansion of additional learning needs places for Ysgol y Deri to ensure sufficient places are available to meet the demand."

It was confirmed in a council meeting that £11,000 will be allocated for the expansion and there will also be £9,239 allocated to primary provision in Penarth.

Work on other projects that form part of the funding programme are already well under way as part of a major commitment to improving educational facilities that will make a difference to thousands of children across the Vale.

Cllr Bob Penrose, Vale of Glamorgan Council cabinet member for Learning and Culture, said: “This increased funding should allow us to further expand what was already a far-reaching programme of investment aimed at transforming nursery, primary, secondary and faith education across the Vale.

“The county’s most vulnerable pupils will receive greater provision as more money has been allocated to both Ysgol y Deri and the Centre for Learning and Wellbeing.

“The 21st Century Schools investment programme will make a significant difference to the educational experience of children throughout the county.

“Extensive improvements have already been made to a host of school buildings and that is set to continue on an even greater scale in this latest round of investment.”