Fitzalan High School Facilities: Sports, Learning, Community Access Cardiff

Fitzalan High School operates a £64 million, three-storey campus on Leckwith Road in Cardiff, featuring 88 classrooms, nine science laboratories, a 25-metre community swimming pool, four Multi-Use Games Areas (MUGAs), two 3G pitches, an 1,800-seat multi-function hall, a drama studio, an immersive room, and an open-plan library. The school accommodates 1,850 pupils aged 11 to 18 and shares additional sports infrastructure with the adjacent Cardiff International Sports Campus, creating one of the most comprehensive secondary education facility complexes in Wales. The building spans 17,730 square feet and achieved BREEAM Excellent environmental certification, reflecting high standards in sustainability and energy efficiency.

How did Fitzalan High School develop historically?

Fitzalan High School traces its origins to 1898 as Cardiff Municipal Secondary School, survived destruction during the Cardiff Blitz in March 1941, and reformed as Fitzalan Technical High School in December 1953 before merging into its current comprehensive form serving Canton, Leckwith, and surrounding Cardiff communities. The school’s girls and boys relocated to newly built buildings, Lady Margaret High School for Girls (1948) and Howardian High School for Boys (1953), in Penylan following wartime damage. Admission was by Eleven plus exam, and the school was run on Grammar school lines with class forms streamed by ability, and divided into houses with house captains. The institution transitioned to comprehensive education during the 1970s, aligning with Welsh Government reforms that eliminated selective secondary schooling across Wales.

The original campus on Lawrenny Avenue operated for decades before the decision to construct a completely new facility on Leckwith Road as part of the Welsh Government’s Sustainable Communities for Learning Programme. Much of the school was subsequently destroyed by incendiary bombs in the Cardiff Blitz during the night of 3–4 March 1941 in World War II. The new £64 million building replaced ageing infrastructure and consolidated Fitzalan’s position as a flagship 11-to-18 community school in Cardiff.

What teaching and learning spaces are available?

Fitzalan High School contains 88 classrooms across two interconnecting buildings, nine dedicated science laboratories, an immersive room for digital learning, a drama studio, vocational training spaces supporting construction and technical subjects, and an open-plan library designed for independent study and collaborative work. The school delivers state-of-the-art teaching facilities for 1,500 11-16-year-old schoolchildren, plus a sixth form. Classrooms feature modern lighting, ventilation, and information technology infrastructure aligned with 21st-century pedagogical requirements.

The immersive room provides interactive digital environments for subjects ranging from geography to history, enabling experiential learning through projection-based simulation. Science laboratories support chemistry, biology, and physics instruction with dedicated equipment storage, fume extraction, and practical work surfaces meeting Welsh health and safety standards. The drama studio includes performance lighting, sound systems, and flexible staging for Key Stage 3, GCSE, and A-level drama cohorts. Vocational training spaces accommodate construction, engineering, and design technology courses with workshop areas, tool storage, and project zones.

The open-plan library functions as a central learning hub with book collections, computer terminals, study pods, and quiet zones for examination preparation. Library design encourages cross-curricular resource use and supports literacy initiatives across all year groups.

What sports and physical education facilities exist?

Fitzalan High School operates a 25-metre four-lane swimming pool with dive boards, four Multi-Use Games Areas (MUGAs), two 3G pitches for rugby, football and hockey, grass sport pitches, hard and soft play areas, and a sports hall, all integrated with the Cardiff International Sports Campus for expanded athletic provision. Fitzalan pupils have use of excellent sporting facilities for both PE Lessons and extra curricular activities. On site there is a 25m four lane swimming pool complete with dive boards for competent swimmers as well as an easy to access pool for complete beginners.

The swimming pool serves curriculum physical education, competitive swimming squads, and community access programmes during evenings and weekends. Pool depth varies from shallow learner zones to deep-water diving sections, accommodating swimmers from beginner to advanced levels. Changing rooms, shower facilities, and spectator seating support competitive events and swimming gala organisation.

Four MUGAs provide hard-surfaced courts for netball, basketball, tennis, and five-a-side football with floodlighting for winter evening use. Two 3G pitches meet FIFA quality standards for football and World Rugby certification for rugby training and matches. Through the delivery of football, rugby, hockey, athletics and multi-use play facilities, Fitzalan High School and Cardiff City House of Sport now benefit from a state-of-the-art, future-ready sports environment designed to meet the needs of education, club sport and the wider community.

Grass pitches support traditional rugby, football, and athletics training, while hard and soft play areas cater to younger year groups and recreational activities. The sports hall hosts indoor sports, examinations, assemblies, and community events with retractable seating and divisible court configurations.

What community and performance venues are included?

Fitzalan High School features an 1,800-seat multi-function hall with an atrium, central dining area, and flexible performance spaces that host assemblies, examinations, concerts, theatrical productions, and community events throughout the academic year and beyond. The building will also have a 4 lane, 25m swimming pool, and 4 very high-quality sports pitches. The school will also have a 1,800 seat multi-function hall with an atrium and learning spaces to support vocational training, such as construction.

The multi-function hall operates as Cardiff’s largest secondary school performance venue, accommodating whole-school assemblies, GCSE and A-level practical examinations, orchestral concerts, drama productions, and award ceremonies. Atrium spaces provide breakout zones for exhibitions, parent evenings, and vocational showcases displaying student work in art, design, and technology.

The central dining area serves hot meals to 1,850 pupils across staggered lunch sittings, with kitchen facilities meeting Welsh Government nutritional standards and allergen management protocols. Dining spaces double as community event zones during evening functions, parent-teacher consultations, and examination invigilation.

Flexible performance spaces include black-box theatre configurations, lecture theatre seating, and presentation zones equipped with projection, sound reinforcement, and recording capabilities for broadcast and archival purposes. These venues support partnerships with local arts organisations, Cardiff University drama departments, and regional youth theatre companies.

How does the school share facilities with Cardiff International Sports Campus?

Fitzalan High School shares boundaries and integrated infrastructure with the Cardiff International Sports Campus, enabling joint use of elite athletics tracks, additional training pitches, gymnasium facilities, and specialist coaching spaces that extend physical education and community sport provision beyond the school’s standalone assets. Located on a site close to the existing school, and sharing facilities with the adjacent Cardiff International Sports Campus, the completed project represents a significant new facility for the pupils, staff and local community. Sharing facilities with the nearby Cardiff International Sports Campus, the school will become a valuable community asset for the staff, its 1850 pupils and the wider local community.

The Cardiff International Sports Campus houses athletics tracks, field event zones, high-performance gymnasiums, and additional 3G and grass pitches used by Cardiff Athletic Club, local football teams, and regional development squads. Fitzalan pupils access these facilities for athletics training, cross-country running, and elite sport pathways coordinated through Sport Cardiff and Welsh national governing bodies.

Joint scheduling ensures curriculum physical education, after-school clubs, and community hire programmes operate without conflict, maximising facility utilisation across school hours, evenings, and weekends. The integrated campus model supports talent identification programmes linking school sport to regional and national performance pathways.

Community users book campus facilities through unified reservation systems, with revenue reinvested into maintenance and equipment upgrades benefiting both school and public users. Sports facilities including a 25ft, four lane swimming pool, 4G pitches, multi-use sport areas and a full size hall will all be RENTED OUT for community use in out of school hours.

What sustainability and accessibility features are built in?

Fitzalan High School achieved BREEAM Excellent environmental certification through energy-efficient mechanical and electrical systems, LED lighting throughout, solar photovoltaic panels, rainwater harvesting, high-performance insulation, and disabled access compliant with Welsh building regulations and equality legislation. The Fitzalan High School will be built to a BREEAM excellent standard and Kier will work with its local supply chain to deliver this scheme. The building is over 17,000 sq ft and 3 storeys high, with disabled access throughout.

Mechanical and electrical services include smart building management systems that monitor heating, ventilation, and air conditioning in real time, adjusting output based on occupancy and weather conditions. LED lighting with motion sensors reduces electricity consumption in classrooms, corridors, and communal areas.

Solar photovoltaic panels on roof surfaces generate renewable electricity, offsetting grid imports and lowering operational carbon emissions. Rainwater harvesting systems collect roof runoff for toilet flushing and landscape irrigation, reducing potable water demand.

Disabled access includes level entrances, wide corridors, accessible toilets, lifts serving all three storeys, and tactile signage meeting Welsh Government accessibility standards. Classroom furniture accommodates wheelchair users and students with mobility impairments, ensuring inclusive participation across all subjects.

When did the new Fitzalan High School open?

The new £64 million Fitzalan High School building opened to pupils and staff in August 2023, with formal handover from contractor Kier to Cardiff Council completed that month following construction that began in January 2022 under the Welsh Government’s Sustainable Communities for Learning Programme. Having started works on the project in January of 2022, we were delighted to successfully hand over the Fitzalan High School to a satisfied client in August of 2023. The new Fitzalan high School opened its doors to pupils and staff for the very first-time last week! The brand-new school which is jointly funded by Cardiff Council and Welsh Government, is Cardiff’s latest scheme to be delivered under the Sustainable Communities for Learning Programme.

Kier has been chosen by Cardiff Council to deliver the £64.3m Fitzalan High School in Cardiff which will provide teaching facilities for 1,500 schoolchildren. The Fitzalan High School is scheduled for completion in time for the 2022/23 academic year. The three-storey high school includes a community swimming pool and four Multi Use Games Areas (MUGA’s).

The 2023 opening marked the end of an era as pupils at Fitzalan High School spend their last day of term in the old school building. The new £64m… It will also benefit the local community in Leckwith, who will be able to access these wonderful facilities, including the 25m, four-lane swimming pool installed on site.

How can Cardiff residents access Fitzalan’s facilities?

Cardiff residents access Fitzalan High School’s sports hall, swimming pool, 3G pitches, and multi-function hall through community hire bookings managed by Cardiff Council and Sport Cardiff, with evening and weekend slots available for clubs, schools, private events, and recreational users from Leckwith, Canton, and wider Cardiff. It is a community focussed school so local people will have access to these excellent amenities on their doorstep! Sports facilities including a 25ft, four lane swimming pool, 4G pitches, multi-use sport areas and a full size hall will all be RENTED OUT for community use in out of school hours.

Swimmers can park for free in the car park directly adjacent to the pool building. Turn in at the traffic lights off Leckwith Road opposite McDonalds, then it’s the first entrance ON THE RIGHT (through an open gate) next to the pool building. Community swimming sessions operate under Puddle Ducks and other learn-to-swim programmes, with lane bookings available for fitness swimmers and clubs.

3G pitch hire supports local football and rugby teams training outside school hours, with floodlit MUGAs available for five-a-side leagues and youth development sessions. The multi-function hall hosts examinations, conferences, performances, and community meetings with catering options and technical support.

Cardiff Council’s leisure booking portal lists availability, pricing, and terms for all community-accessible facilities, with discounted rates for registered charities, schools, and not-for-profit organisations. Priority booking windows accommodate curriculum needs and school events before public slots open.

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What investment and funding supported the facilities?

Fitzalan High School’s £64 million construction received joint funding from Cardiff Council and the Welsh Government under the Sustainable Communities for Learning Programme, with CMB Engineering delivering the £11 million mechanical and electrical services package and Kier acting as principal contractor for the full build. The £64 Million 3-storey building spans across 17,730 sq-ft and is the largest in the 21st Century Schools project. Jointly funded by Cardiff Council and Welsh Government, it is Cardiff’s latest scheme to be delivered under the Sustainable Communities for Learning Programme.

The Welsh Government’s 21st Century Schools Programme invests billions across Wales to replace ageing school buildings with modern, sustainable campuses supporting improved educational outcomes and community cohesion. Fitzalan High School ranks among the largest single investments in Cardiff secondary education infrastructure this decade.

CMB were appointed as part of the Kier team to design and deliver the full Mechanical and Electrical Services to the new secondary school providing 11 – 18 year olds with a fantastic new building to learn and develop in. Location: Cardiff. Services: Mechanical and Electrical. Client: Cardiff Council. Value: £11 Million. Duration: 2 Years.

Local supply chain engagement created apprenticeships and training placements for Cardiff-based construction workers, aligning with Welsh Government economic development objectives. The result is a high-performing, future-ready school that supports wellbeing, skills and community life. A place built for people and the planet, designed to serve Cardiff for generations.

What future developments are planned for the campus?

Fitzalan High School’s campus maintains capacity for phased expansion of sixth form spaces, additional vocational workshops, and enhanced community sport facilities as Cardiff population growth and Welsh Government curriculum reforms drive demand for post-16 education and lifelong learning provision in Leckwith and Canton. Fitzalan is a thriving 11 to 18 community focused school, which has seen significant changes in investment over the last couple of years. Fitzalan has a wide range of 6th form courses and other opportunities available for post 16 pupils and we invite you to consider carefully your application for a place in Fitzalan’s 6th form.

Sixth form expansion responds to increasing A-level and vocational enrolment, with potential for dedicated study centres, extended library hours, and university partnership spaces supporting higher education progression. Vocational workshop additions could include engineering bays, digital media studios, and health and social care simulation suites aligned with Welsh qualification frameworks.

Enhanced community sport facilities may incorporate expanded gymnasium provision, outdoor fitness zones, and additional changing rooms to support growing adult participation in recreational sport and wellbeing programmes. Fitzalan High School was a major undertaking, combining civil and structural engineering on a complex site.

Long-term master planning coordinates with Cardiff Council’s local development plan, ensuring transport infrastructure, parking, and pedestrian access scale alongside facility enhancements. The new Fitzalan High School in Cardiff is a £64m development located close to its predecessor.