End of Week Message from Liz

04 September 2026

Hi Everyone, 

With the new term starting on Tuesday, I wanted to take this opportunity to welcome staff back to our schools after the summer holidays. 

Since the end of the last school year, we have seen GCSE and A Level pupils receive exam results, with many now entering the next stage of their education or employment journeys. 

Teachers and other school staff have contributed a lot to those success stories, and I’d like to again thank them for their commitment, which has helped students achieve. 

Many colleagues also have children that attend our schools and I hope they are settling into their new classes.  

Transporting, teaching, supporting and feeding thousands of children across the Vale is a huge operation that relies on the hard work of many talented staff. 

There are also the people that clean the buildings after everyone has gone home. 

Thank you all very much for your dedication. 

While pupils and staff enjoyed a well-earned break after the summer term, many other Council colleagues were hard at work, repairing, maintaining and improving facilities ready for their return. 

Ian Tomkinson, Paul Cook, Martin Ilett, Steve Hodges, Tim Sansum, Paul Hynam and Nick Thomas from the Corporate Landlord Team managed a range of projects at our school sites. 

This programme of work meant children came back to upgraded facilities and refurbished buildings for the new academic year. 

It involved enhancing buildings, infrastructure, safety systems and learning environments so school facilities remain safe, reliable and fit for purpose. 

Key works included: 

• Installation of new sports hall flooring at Ysgol Bro Morgannwg.  
• Continued roof renewal works at Colcot Primary.  
• Boiler replacement at Llantwit School to improve heating efficiency and reliability.  
• Major electrical rewiring works at Ysgol Sant Curig and Romilly Primary.  
• Fire alarm renewal projects at Y Bont Faen Primary and St Helens Junior, alongside fire door upgrades at St Illtyd Primary.  
• Additional fire protection improvements at Y Bont Faen Primary.  
• Drainage-related works, including playground drainage improvements at Holton Primary and drainage repairs at Rhws Primary.  
• Hot water system upgrades at Jenner Park Primary and replacement storage heaters at Llanfair Primary.  
• Toilet refurbishment projects at Colcot Primary, Barry Island Primary and Cadoxton Primary.  
• Floor renewal works at Gwenfo Primary.  
• External improvement works at Llansannor Primary.  
• Stonework repairs at Cogan Primary.  

Overall, the programme delivered a wide range of essential maintenance, safety and infrastructure upgrades across schools, helping to improve building condition, support day-to-day operations and provide high-quality environments for pupils and staff.

I know Rob Thomas met with the team responsible for work at Cadoxton when he visited the school and was very impressed with how it was being managed. Well done all. 

I’d also like to thank everyone involved for their efforts as well as the schools for their cooperation and support while the various refurbishments have been taking place. 

The School Cleaning Teams have also been busy over the summer holidays, carrying out the annual deep cleans of these buildings. 

That work was complicated by the various refurbishment projects taking place, so I'd like to pass on my appreciation both for the excellent job that has been done and the professional way in which staff worked around maintenance activity. 

On top of this, projects linked to our Sustainable Communities for Learning Programme are also progressing well. 

These include the construction of new school buildings for St Richard Gwyn Catholic High School and Ysgol Bro Morgannwg, which come after a range of other schools throughout the Vale have either been rebuilt or extensively refurbished. 

All this activity ensures our pupils are taught in ultra-modern learning environments giving them the very best platform for success. 
Before I finish, I wanted to give a shout out to another very important team whose role often goes overlooked. 

Next Monday to Friday is National Payroll Week, which aims to recognise and celebrate the role payroll professionals play in ensuring we are all paid every month. 

I’m sure I don’t to stress what an important task this is as we would all notice pretty quickly if it didn’t happen! 

This month the team’s work is likely to be appreciated even more than normal as they are processing a backdated pay claim. 

Unions have accepted the National Joint Council for Local Government Services’ (NJC) offer of a 3.3 per cent increase on all spinal points. 

This is payable from April and September’s payslip will include the additional amounts that are due. 

Thank you all very much for your efforts this week. 

They are very much appreciated by myself and the rest of the Strategic Leadership Team (SLT). 

For those not in work, have a relaxing weekend. 

Diolch yn fawr, 

Liz