The new 1,400-pupil school, including a 200-strong sixth form would be built on the former Daniel James School site in Penderry.
The proposals are at an advanced stage and, subject to planning permission, work demolishing the old Daniel James Community School could begin early in 2026.
Robert Smith, Cabinet Member for Education, said: “This is very good news for pupils of Bishop Vaughan Catholic School who will get a 21st Century state-of-the-art replacement school.
“The outline proposals for the future of Bishop Vaughan were agreed last year, as part of our ambitious £400m schools’ investment programme in new and improved school buildings across Swansea.
“The new programme brings to almost £1bn the amount of spending or money Swansea Council has committed to improving our schools so future generations of our children can benefit.”
He said: “The current Bishop Vaughan Catholic School is in need of significant investment and, following discussion with the school and diocese, the preferred option is a new build on the site of the former Daniel James School in Mynyddbach.
“We are now following through on that with the first phase being to issue a contract for the demolition of the buildings on the current Daniel James Community School site.
“The new build project remains in the very early stages of feasibility design, working closely with stakeholders. The design will provide a fully accessible school environment and aims to provide a sustainable net-zero operational carbon facility with an emphasis on biodiversity and promotion of well-being.
“The project further seeks to provide an environment that enhances existing, and promotes further community and wider use.
The latest proposals for the new school are still subject to further discussions with Welsh Government, the Archdiocese of Cardiff-Menevia – which provides a network of Catholic schools – and formal approval from Swansea Council’s Cabinet.
Designs for the new school would also be subject to planning permission.
The tender period for the demolition phase is due to commence shortly and work is anticipated to commence the early part of 2026.
The former Daniel James school has been a magnet for antisocial behaviour in recent years, with firefighters called to suspected arson at the building just last month.
The council’s wider £400m programme for new and upgraded schools includes further investment in improvements at both primary and secondary schools.
Andrew Scott Ltd has recently been appointed to carry out the pre-construction phase design for Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Bryn Tawe to improve facilities and increase capacity at the Welsh-medium secondary school.
The pre-construction phase design for Gowerton School is currently out to tender and further secondary schools have already been identified for investment, there is the potential for new projects at Olchfa and Bishop Gore in the future, depending on funding and individual business case approval.
The programme also includes new school builds on Local Development Plan (LDP) strategic sites in Garden Village, Penllergaer and Cefngyfelach.
Investment will be prioritised for those schools that currently have the greatest condition and suitability needs and these could include Clydach, Dunvant, Blaenymaes, Portmead, Brynhyfryd and St Joseph’s Cathedral Catholic primary schools, as well as YGG Bryn y Mor and Christchurch Church in Wales Primary School.
The contract for the pre-construction phase design for the new build special school at Mynydd Garnllwyd Road which will replace Ysgol Crug Glas and Ysgol Pen-y-Bryn with bigger and better facilities, and that will be named Ysgol Calon Lȃn, is due to be let very shortly.
All proposals would be dependent on the level of funding available from Welsh Government and each one would be subject to individual business cases as well as further Cabinet reports and, if necessary, consultation.
Cllr Smith, said: “We want our young people to learn in modern and welcoming environments by continuing to upgrade our school buildings in the largest ever school investment programme Swansea has seen.
“Over the last decade or so we’ve built seven new schools, carried out major upgrades at seven others with a further three major projects currently in progress.”
“Our proposals have prioritised the current condition of facilities, suitability and sustainability issues as well as our commitment to grow the number of pupils in Swansea who learn through the medium of Welsh.”
