(Image: Welsh Government)
Last Updated: 2 minutes ago
The Welsh Government has announced an extra £40.5 million in funding this year to support essential capital repairs and maintenance work across schools, colleges and universities throughout Wales.
The investment builds on a £20 million package for schools and colleges confirmed back in January, bringing total funding for improving education settings to over £60 million.
How the money will be split
Of the new funding, £15 million will be distributed across all local authorities in Wales for school maintenance, while £25.5 million will be shared equally between colleges and universities for transformation and maintenance projects.
The money will fund large-scale works including roof replacements, new window systems, heating and ventilation upgrades and electrical improvements. It will be delivered through the Sustainable Communities for Learning Programme and Medr.
For colleges, the additional investment will help meet growing demand, particularly for vocational courses, by expanding workshop provision and adapting learning spaces. Universities have previously used similar funding to cut operating costs and improve student and staff facilities.
Supporting climate goals
The Sustainable Communities for Learning programme has also contributed to Wales’s climate targets. Maintenance projects have helped reduce energy use and carbon emissions through better insulation, efficient heating systems and energy-efficient windows – creating learning environments that are cheaper to run and better for the planet.
Over the past decade, the programme has invested £3.6 billion in more than 330 projects to build and improve school and college buildings in every local authority in Wales.
What ministers have said
Cabinet Secretary for Education Lynne Neagle said: “In the last ten years we have invested £3.6bn in over 330 projects to build and improve new school and college buildings in every local authority, through the Sustainable Communities for Learning programme.
“This funding has helped to provide modern, fit for purpose buildings, designed to educate the next generation and invested in our local communities.
“The additional funding announced today will help support local authorities across Wales to invest once again in our school estate.”
Minister for Further and Higher Education Vikki Howells said: “Investing in our colleges and universities buildings, is also an investment in delivering our future skills and ambitions as a nation.
“The additional money once again reinforces our commitment to post 16 learning and ensures learners benefit from sustainable learning environments.
“The funding will help colleges with increased participation in vocational courses; this includes expanding workshops and adapting learning spaces.
“For universities investment is via Medr and will allow universities to continue to fund projects that have helped generate long-term running cost savings through increased energy efficiency and reduced ongoing maintenance costs and enhance student experience through improved student facilities and digital services.”
Cabinet Secretary for Finance Mark Drakeford said: “Our budget is supporting vital public services, and we have allocated over £60m to help improve schools and education settings. This money will provide a positive impact to schools, colleges, and higher education settings across Wales.
“Well-designed buildings play an important role in creating engaging learning environments, alongside supporting our net zero ambitions.”
