Bulldozers move in as demolition starts at former Daniel James school

Contractors started moving onto the site this week to begin tearing down the long‑disused buildings, Swansea Council has confirmed. The neighbouring former Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg Tirdeunaw will also be demolished as part of the same programme.

The council said the clearance is being jointly funded with the Welsh Government, with Tom Prichard Contracting Ltd appointed to carry out the work. According to the authority, the demolition phase is expected to take around six months.

History of the Mynydd‑bach school site

Mynyddbach Multilateral School
Opened in 1957 as a prominent all‑girls secondary school, providing single‑sex education for more than 50 years.

Merger in 2001
The school merged with the all‑boys Penlan Comprehensive to form the mixed‑sex Daniel James Community School.

Closure of Daniel James
Daniel James Community School was placed in special measures in 2010 and closed in 2012, leaving the site largely vacant until the current redevelopment work.

Site earmarked for future Bishop Vaughan rebuild

Swansea Council said the cleared land is planned to become the future home of a new Bishop Vaughan Catholic School under the Welsh Government’s Sustainable Communities for Learning programme. The council stated that the project has been agreed “in principle” but still requires further approvals before construction can begin.

The authority added that Bishop Vaughan will continue operating at its current site “without any disruption” to pupils or staff until a new building is ready.

“A big step forward” — Cabinet Member

Cllr Robert Smith, Swansea Council’s Cabinet Member for Education, said the demolition marks progress in the wider school investment programme.

“The demolition of these empty, outdated buildings that are no longer fit for purpose is a big step forward for our future plans for Bishop Vaughan,” he said.

“Working with colleagues in Welsh Government, we are seeing record investment in our school buildings in Swansea. More than £400m is earmarked for the next phase of investment to create state‑of‑the‑art facilities at many of our schools and to give pupils the best possible support to reach their full potential.”

The council clarified that the £400m refers to investment across multiple schools, not this single project.

What happens next?

Once demolition is complete, the council says the site will be prepared for the next stage of planning and approvals before any construction work begins.

Related stories

Plans for major investment in two Swansea secondary schools move forward
Proposals for large‑scale redevelopment across the city’s school estate.

Work on new Bishop Vaughan school could start early next year
Early details on the proposed rebuild under the Sustainable Communities for Learning programme.

Swansea schools set for £400m investment programme
A look at the next phase of funding planned across multiple schools.

Minister opens £11.5m new Welsh‑medium school
A recent example of new school facilities delivered in Swansea.

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Council-backed plans for major investment in two Swansea secondary schools move forward

Swansea Council’s Cabinet is being asked to approve the next phase of work, which would see outdated classrooms and facilities at Gowerton School replaced, alongside refurbishment and upgrades to other areas of the site. The improvements aim to deliver significantly enhanced spaces for learning, sport, recreation and wider community use.

Cabinet members are also considering funding for the detailed design and pre-construction phase, with contractors expected to work closely with pupils, staff, governors and the wider community to shape the final plans.

Separately, the Council is progressing plans for a brand new Bishop Vaughan Catholic School, to be built on the site of the former Daniel James Community School in Mynyddbach. Existing buildings on the site — including those previously occupied by YGG Tirdeunaw — would be demolished next year, with construction of the new school potentially completed within five years.

Bishop Vaughan school and the former Daniel James school
(Images: Google Maps)

The new Bishop Vaughan campus would offer state-of-the-art facilities and vocational learning opportunities for both pupils and the wider community. Pupils and staff will remain at the current site throughout the build, with no disruption to learning.

Cabinet members are also being asked to approve a land swap with the Archdiocese of Cardiff-Menevia, alongside potential changes to lease arrangements associated with the site.

Robert Smith, Cabinet Member for Education, said: “In Swansea we are seeing record investment in our school buildings with more than £400m earmarked to create state-of-the-art facilities to give pupils the best possible support to reach their full potential.

“Many of our secondary schools have already benefitted from investment and I’m pleased that our plans for Gowerton and Bishop Vaughan are progressing, as is investment at Ysgol Gyfun Bryn Tawe. Thousands more pupils will benefit from these latest projects for many years to come.”

Both projects are part of the Welsh Government’s Sustainable Communities for Learning Programme, and will be built to net zero operational carbon targets. Contractors will be expected to create work and apprenticeship opportunities, and source materials and services locally under the council’s Beyond Bricks and Mortar policy.

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