School term dates 'jeopardise Royal Welsh Show for pupils'
Changes to school term dates meaning pupils and families from outside Powys miss the opening days of the Royal Welsh Show have been "strongly opposed" by organisers of the national event.
The Welsh Government announced on Wednesday (June 25) that following a consultation into school term dates and holidays, the summer term in 2027 will end on Tuesday, July 20.
Only schools in Powys will have finished the term by Friday, July 16, which is three days before the opening day of the Royal Welsh Show in Llanelwedd, near Builth Wells.
The Royal Welsh Agricultural Society's chief executive, Aled Rhys Jones, said: 'We are strongly opposed to schools in Wales being open during the week of the Royal Welsh Show.
"The Show has always been held during the first week of the school summer holidays and is a highlight of the national calendar. It attracts thousands of visitors - including families, schoolchildren, exhibitors and volunteers - from across Wales and beyond.
'Thousands of young people take part in competitions and activities, gaining hands-on experience and valuable vocational learning.
'While we welcome the decision for schools in Powys to close the week before, it's vital to recognise that the Royal Welsh Show is a national event, not just a local one.
'Its significance to Welsh culture, education, and rural life must be protected.'
Education Secretary Lynne Neagle said variations in school term dates and school holidays could cause difficulties for many families and businesses across Wales, and she fully acknowledged there were both advantages and disadvantages to aligning school term dates.
'Reduce footfall'
The changes have been met with criticism from the Welsh Conservatives who are calling for it to be scrapped completely because every pupil and family hoping to attend the "culturally significant" show should be able to do so from the start to the end.
Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Education, Natasha Asghar MS, added: "These plans will undoubtedly reduce footfall at the Royal Welsh Show by restricting the number of families who can attend its first two days.
'As the Royal Welsh was a major barrier to Labour and Plaid Cymru implementing their deeply unpopular school holiday reform, making this small change now feels like they are laying the groundwork to implement their original plans to rob our children of their summer holidays in the future.
The very best livestock attend the Royal Welsh Show. It's a place for champions.
(Image: RWAS) Hundreds of thousands of people attend the show every year.
'The Welsh Government cannot ignore the opposition from every teachers' union, as well as the farming, tourism and business sectors. We need a rethink on these dates immediately, and the school holiday reform must be scrapped completely not just postponed."
Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Samuel Kurtz MS, said: 'Any changes that jeopardise that ability for young people to enjoy it should be confined to the bin.
'This decision adds to the narrative that agriculture and rural communities are an afterthought for Labour, and never a priority.'
A spokesperson for the Welsh Government said: 'We believe there are benefits to having the same term dates across Wales, including helping to eliminate difficulties for parents and school staff who may work and live in different local authority areas.
'The dates for 2026-27 were proposed by the majority of local authorities in Wales, including Powys, Ceredigion and neighbouring local authorities and were supported by a large proportion of respondents to our recent consultation.
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