Construction work has started on three school projects worth over £33 million in Denbighshire, Wales.

A new £5m school building is being developed for Ysgol Carreg Emlyn, Clocaenog, in addition to a new £5.3m building for Ysgol Llanfair. Elsewhere, a new £23m 3-16 Catholic school is being built in Rhyl.

The projects are the last three to be delivered as part of the first phase of a £90m investment in Denbighshire's schools under the 21st Century Schools programme. Contractors working on the schools include Willmott Dixon, Read Construction, Wynne Construction and Kier Construction.

The first phase of the programme has seen a new £24m replacement school of 1200 places for Rhyl High School and Ysgol Tir Morfa, a £16.5m extension and refurbishment for Ysgol Glan Clwyd in St Asaph and a new £10.5m joint site for Rhos Street School and Ysgol Pen Barras in Ruthin.


Other work includes a £3.5m seven-classroom extension and refurbishment with new reception area and hall at Bodnant Community School, Prestatyn as well as a £1.4m three-classroom extension and refurbishment at Ysgol Bro Dyfrdwy, Cynwyd.

Cllr Huw Hilditch-Roberts said: "This investment has radically altered the learning environment for thousands of pupils. They are no longer being taught in outdated classrooms, they are now in state-of-the-art, bright and fit for purpose areas.

"The evidence is already showing this has changed pupils' approach to learning and helping them achieve even more at school.

"Making sure young people have the right skills is a key priority under our Corporate Plan and we will continue to invest in the county's schools as we look towards the next phase of the 21st Century Schools programme with the Welsh Government."

The second phase of the 21st Century Schools programme is scheduled to start in April next year.

(LM/MH)