The Auditor General for Wales published his report on The 21st Century Schools and Education Programme (PDF 1MB) on 25 May 2017.

The Report considers the Welsh Government’s management of its 21st Century Schools and Education programme. This investment programme, developed with the Welsh Local Government Association, was announced in 2009 and aims to modernise the education estate and improve the condition and suitability of school buildings. The Welsh Government set a number of educational and community goals for the investment. The programme is co-funded with the Welsh Government generally providing a grant for 50% of project costs.

The report has a particular focus on the first phase of the programme from April 2014 to March 2019. However, it also considers the Welsh Government’s planning for future investment in Band B of the programme from 2019-2024.

The Public Accounts Committee considered the Report and undertook an inquiry during summer 2018. The Committee wrote to the Welsh Government in July 2018 following the inquiry and considered their response in autumn 2018. The Chair wrote to Children, Young People and Education Committee in May 2019 asking that they maintain a watching brief on programme and also to the Finance Committee regarding the Mutual Investment Model.