AN UNPRECEDENTED £140m investment programme to improve and modernise local schools and nurseries is being launched by the Vale of Glamorgan Council.

As part of its 21st Century Schools programme, the council is preparing to embark on the second stage of the project, following on from a spend of £31 million during stage one.

Public consultation on a range of developments will begin imminently, with some projects scheduled to start within months.

Schemes that will be subject to consultation include: new, modern buildings for St David’s Primary School in Colwinston and Llancarfan Primary School, an extended and remodelled school building for St Nicholas, new and remodelled school buildings in Cowbridge, a new school on Barry Waterfront and a new Catholic school for pupils aged three to 16.

Work to create two new English-medium mixed-sex schools to replace the existing single-sex Barry and Bryn Hafren comprehensive schools is already under way, with both schools set to benefit from substantial investment. Both are scheduled to open their doors to pupils in September this year.

Welsh language secondary education will also benefit, with Ysgol Gymraeg Bro Morgannwg set to undergo extensive improvement and expansion works in order to cater for a growing number of Welsh-speaking pupils in the Barry area.

In total, the second phase of the programme will cost £142,417,000, with £83,825,000 coming from the Welsh Government, who will need to approve business cases for all schemes.

Cllr Bob Penrose, Vale of Glamorgan Council cabinet member for learning and culture, said: "I’m delighted it has been possible to secure such a significant funding sum for the latest round of work in this exciting project.

"The size of the investment will allow us to embark on a variety of projects that can have far-reaching positive consequences across the Vale of Glamorgan’s educational landscape. Nursery, primary, secondary, Welsh, English and faith schools are all set to benefit as part of this groundbreaking series of improvement works."