Key Points
- The new Cantonian High School in Cardiff opened to pupils and staff on January 15, 2026, after years of construction work.
- Newly appointed Headteacher Andraea Davies described the move as “the beginning of a new chapter for Cantonian High School”.
- Facilities include new science labs, a library, full-size sports courts, a dance studio, gym, 4G pitches, and a wellbeing hub.
- The £110m Fairwater Community Campus will integrate Woodlands High and Riverbank School onto the site in September 2026.
- Facilities will be available to local community groups after school hours.
- The campus is the largest investment by Cardiff Council and the Welsh Government through the Sustainable Communities for Learning programme.
- It is a net zero site featuring sports facilities, nutrition and food-education areas, and a community café using home-grown produce.
- Redevelopment proposals for Cantonian, Riverbank, and Woodlands High Schools were approved by Welsh Ministers in July 2020, originally for 2023 completion, but delayed by Covid-19 and operational issues.
- Andraea Davies stated: “It has been heart-warming to see our pupils walk through the doors of a school they truly deserve. This extraordinary campus gives us the platform to match our ambition for every young person.”
- Cantonian High School has expanded from six forms of entry (6FE) to eight forms of entry (8FE) with sixth form provision for up to 250 pupils.
- Woodlands High School capacity increases to 240 places; Riverbank School to 112 places, both relocating to the campus.
- The campus is net zero carbon, powered by air source heat pumps and photovoltaics generating over 900,000 kWh annually.
- Construction began in February 2023, with topping out milestone in September 2024.
- Previous Cantonian Headteacher Diane Gill attended topping out with Chair of Governors Barbara Connell.
Cardiff, Wales Online (Wales Online) January 15, 2026 – Pupils and staff have moved into the newly built Cantonian High School in Cardiff’s Fairwater area, marking the end of years of anticipation following extensive construction delays. The £110 million Fairwater Community Campus, of which Cantonian forms the first phase, represents a landmark in educational infrastructure for the city. First pictures reveal modern facilities ready for use, as captured in initial coverage by Wales Online.
What Triggered the Opening of Cantonian High School?
The occupation of Cantonian High School on January 15, 2026, followed the completion of its new build on the Fairwater Community Campus site. As reported in Wales Online coverage, these are the first pictures inside the new establishment as pupils and staff arrived after years of building work. Cardiff Council documents confirmed the project was on track for January 2026 occupation, with the external façade largely complete and internals at a mixed stage prior to handover.cardiff.
Newly appointed Headteacher Andraea Davies welcomed the milestone, stating it marks “the beginning of a new chapter for Cantonian High School”. In a detailed statement attributed to her via Wales Online, Davies added: “It has been heart-warming to see our pupils walk through the doors of a school they truly deserve. This extraordinary campus gives us the platform to match our ambition for every young person.” She further emphasised:
“Cantonian has always been rooted in its community, and this remarkable new setting allows us to deepen that connection while offering young people outstanding spaces and opportunities in which to learn, grow and thrive. The best is yet to come, and I feel humbled and privileged to be standing here today as headteacher.”
What Facilities Does the New School Offer?
The new Cantonian High School boasts state-of-the-art amenities designed for modern education. Facilities include advanced science laboratories, a library, full-size sports courts, a dance studio, a gym, and 4G pitches, alongside a dedicated wellbeing hub. The broader Fairwater Community Campus, as described in Wales Online, also incorporates sports facilities, nutrition and food-education areas, and a community café utilising home-grown produce.
These features align with the campus’s net zero carbon design, powered by renewable energy sources such as air source heat pumps and rooftop photovoltaics generating over 900,000 kWh annually. As part of the Sustainable Communities for Learning programme, the site sets a benchmark for energy efficiency, with 100% waste diverted from landfill and low-carbon materials like 70% GGBS concrete reducing embodied carbon by 15% against Welsh Government baselines. Community access after school hours will extend benefits to local groups.
When Was the Fairwater Community Campus Approved and Built?
Proposals for redeveloping Cantonian High, Riverbank, and Woodlands High Schools were first agreed by Welsh Ministers in July 2020, targeting implementation by 2023. The Covid-19 pandemic, combined with operational issues, delayed progress, leading to revised timelines that were ultimately met.
Construction commenced in February 2023, as noted in Business News Wales reporting on the topping out milestone achieved in September 2024. That event, covered by Business News Wales, saw Cardiff Council’s Leader Cllr Huw Thomas state: “Bringing together Cantonian, Woodlands and Riverbank Schools on one site known as Fairwater Community Campus, will provide a distinct combination of learning as part of this unique and ambitious plan.” Cllr Thomas further described it as “our largest Net Zero Carbon school” supporting Cardiff’s One Planet vision for carbon neutrality by 2030.
Cardiff’s Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Education, Cllr Sarah Merry, added at the topping out: “This topping out event marks an exciting milestone for the futures all three schools which are proudly part of the new Fairwater Community Campus, and who have all been integral to the planning and vision for the new campus.” She highlighted the scheme’s consideration for diverse learner needs, increasing places for mainstream pupils and those with Additional Learning Needs.
Richard Skone, Regional Director for ISG’s Construction business in Wales, remarked:
“Reaching the topping out milestone at the Fairwater Community Campus is a significant achievement for all the partners involved in this transformative project… creating a campus that not only delivers modern, high-quality educational facilities that are Net Zero, but also promotes a strong sense of community for students, staff, and local residents.”
Earlier milestones included a time capsule burial in December 2025, as reported on the Fairwater BESL site, where Leader Huw Thomas noted:
“This burial marks a new chapter that we are celebrating in the history of these three schools, as well as the Cantonian cluster primary schools.”
Guests at prior events included former Cantonian Headteacher Diane Gill and Chair of Governors Barbara Connell, alongside Wayne Murphy and Bianca Rees from the Western Learning Federation.
Who Funds and Delivered the £110m Project?
The Fairwater Community Campus is Cardiff Council and the Welsh Government’s largest investment via the Sustainable Communities for Learning programme. Funded jointly, it is described in Business News Wales as the biggest in scale and investment among Cardiff’s education developments under this initiative.
ISG served as the design and build contractor, with partners including MACE, HLM, ARUP, ASL, Churngold, Cardiff Demolition, and Morgans of Usk. Social value efforts encompassed 86% local workforce within 30 miles, nine long-term employments, 12 apprentices, and over 800 hours of school engagement. The project expanded Cantonian’s Specialist Resource Base for Autism Spectrum Condition learners to 30 places.
What Changes for Woodlands High and Riverbank School?
Woodlands High and Riverbank School, part of the Western Learning Federation, will relocate to the integrated Fairwater site in September 2026. Capacities will rise: Woodlands to 240 places from its current Trelai Park site, and Riverbank to 112 places.
As Cllr Huw Thomas explained in Business News Wales coverage:
“The first of its kind for Cardiff, this joint education campus will be one of the most educationally advanced institutions in the UK. Each school will be able to keep its identity and will benefit from shared facilities, expertise and teaching opportunities.”
Cllr Sarah Merry noted the increase in education places meets city demand.
How Does the Campus Benefit the Community?
Beyond schooling, the campus offers public facilities post-hours, including sports amenities and the community café. This fosters deeper community ties, as Headteacher Andraea Davies affirmed:
“Cantonian has always been rooted in its community, and this remarkable new setting allows us to deepen that connection.”
The net zero features and local sourcing align with sustainability goals, while economic impacts include apprenticeships and local hiring. Pupils marked milestones with performances, underscoring community involvement from the outset.
What Lies Ahead for the Schools?
Cantonian High School now operates from the new premises, with full campus integration by Autumn 2026. The site supports Cardiff’s 2030 vision for high-quality education, as per council statements. Ongoing coverage from Wales Online and Cardiff Newsroom highlights this as an exciting new era.
