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Powys County Times
04-06-2025
- General
- Powys County Times
Powys primary school set to close despite objections
Objections to the closure of a small primary school in north Powys don't appear to have been enough to save it from closure. After proposing to close Ysgol Bro Cynllaith in Llansilin later this year, Powys Council have said that after hearing objections to the closure its education chief will still be recommending closing the school to Cabinet when it receives the report on June 10. Twenty objections were received by Powys Council during the statutory notice period, having first published a notice formally proposing closing the school in March 2025 Cabinet will receive and consider the objection report and will be asked to approve the proposal to close Ysgol Bro Cynllaith from the 31 August 2025, with pupils to transfer to their nearest schools in Powys Cllr Pete Roberts, Cabinet Member for a Learning Powys, said: 'After carefully considering the objections, I will be recommending to Cabinet that they approve the proposal to close Ysgol Bro Cynllaith. 'We are committed to securing the best possible start for our learners and we believe that our Strategy for Transforming Education in Powys will achieve this. 'As part of the strategy, we need to address the high proportion of small schools in the county, decreasing pupil numbers and the high number of surplus places. 'The historic and projected pupil numbers for Ysgol Bro Cynllaith suggest that numbers are not expected to increase significantly in the future while it is ranked the third highest school in Powys by budget share per pupil. 'The small pupil numbers at the school mean that pupils are taught in whole key stage classes with foundation pupils in one class and older pupils in another. As pupil numbers in each year group are small, it is more difficult to ensure all pupils are appropriately challenged. 'The proposal has not been reached lightly but we believe that it is needed to address the low numbers at the school and reduce the council's overall surplus capacity in primary schools. 'It will also ensure that pupils are taught in classes with peers of similar ages and attend a larger school which could provide a wider range of educational and extra-curricular activities.' News of the school's closure drew objections from members of the community and Powys politicians, with Montgomeryshire MP Steve Witherden saying it ' will be a great loss to the community ' after arguing it should be kept open.
Powys County Times
15-05-2025
- Business
- Powys County Times
Builth and Llandrindod: Views sought on education changes
Plans for a huge transformation affecting the future of education in Builth Wells and Llandrindod Wells have been put to the public. A consultation has begun on the changes at Ysgol Calon Cymru – which currently operates over two campuses, in Builth and Llandrindod. Plans could see a new Welsh-medium all-age school established in Builth, as well as significant investment in two school buildings – the Llandrindod campus, as well as Builth Wells Primary School. As part of its 'Transforming Education' programme, Powys County Council (PCC) has been considering options on how to move forward. Now the council is asking for views from the public on the proposals, who have until Wednesday, July 2, to submit their views. RECOMMENDED READING: The proposals, which would be delivered in two phases, are: Phase 1 (September 2027): • To establish a new Welsh-medium all-age school (4-18) on the current Builth campus of Ysgol Calon Cymru • Initially, the school would share the Builth campus with Ysgol Calon Cymru, using part of its building and sharing some facilities • This would be a temporary arrangement until there has been investment in the Llandrindod site. • To change the language category of Builth Wells Primary School to English-medium. • Pupils in the Welsh-medium stream here would move to the new Welsh-medium all-age school. • To change the language category of Ysgol Calon Cymru from dual stream to English-medium. • Pupils in years 7, 8 and 9 in the Welsh-medium stream of Ysgol Calon Cymru in September 2027 would transfer to the new Welsh-medium all-age school. The Welsh-medium stream of Ysgol Calon Cymru would be phased out by September 2029. Phase 2 (September 2029 at the earliest): • Following capital investment on the Llandrindod campus to accommodate all Ysgol Calon Cymru pupils and improve existing facilities, Ysgol Calon Cymru would close its Builth campus and operate solely from the Llandrindod campus • Pupils from the school's Builth campus would move to Llandrindod • The Welsh-medium all-age school would take over the whole of the Builth campus. Councillor Pete Roberts, cabinet member for a Learning Powys, said: 'This exciting proposal represents the next stage in the delivery of our strategic plans for education in Powys. 'They will move us one step closer to delivering our Strategy for Transforming Education in Powys and Welsh in Education Strategic Plan. 'The proposals would see a new Welsh-medium all-age school established in central Powys which would provide an improved Welsh-medium experience for our learners while a broader curriculum could be provided to English-medium learners who would all be on one campus, eliminating the need to duplicate English-medium provision across two sites. 'As part of our proposals, we would invest in both campuses to ensure that all learners are taught in 21st Century facilities that will enable them to thrive and reach their full potential. 'However, it is important that the people living in the Ysgol Calon Cymru catchment and the wider area have they say on these proposals and I would urge them to send their views so that they can be considered.' To respond to the consultation, visit and follow the links to give your views online. Alternatively, you can respond in writing by emailing or via post to: Transforming Education Team, Powys County Council, County Hall, Llandrindod Wells, LD1 5LG. PCC says these proposals would help it meet its aspirations outlined in its 'Welsh in Education Strategic Plan (WESP) for 2022-32' as well as aligning with its 'Strategy for Transforming Education in Powys'.
Powys County Times
07-05-2025
- Business
- Powys County Times
Welsh Government approves new building for Powys school
Plans to build a new school near Newtown will be moving forward after being approved by the Welsh Government. As Powys County Council is planning to build a new school tom replace Brynllywarch Hall School's current building, the proposal will be moving forward after a full business case was approved by the Welsh Government. The council have said that the new school, located in Kerry near Newtown, will 'transform education for vulnerable learners' as the school provides education for pupils from 8 to 19-year-olds, with a wide range of complex emotional, behavioural and social difficulties. Cllr Pete Roberts, Cabinet Member for a Learning Powys, said: 'I'm delighted that the Welsh Government has approved our full business case to replace the current Brynllywarch Hall School building. Their decision represents another huge investment in our school infrastructure and will enable construction of the new school building to start. 'The existing building no longer offers a suitable environment for the teaching and support requirements of pupils with significant behavioural, emotional or social difficulties. 'The new school for Brynllywarch would provide an environment where teaching staff can thrive and provide pupils with the facilities that enable their needs to be met their needs giving them a more enjoyable and fulfilling educational experience.' In January 2025 it was reported that the cost of building the new 84 pupil school for Brynllywarch Hall had risen by £3.5 million since the original £9.1 million estimate in 2020. The business case approved by the Welsh Government was submitted after the council's Cabinet gave the go-ahead in February and is the last of the series of three business cases the council is required to prepare to secure capital funding for new build projects. The Welsh Government will contribute 75% of the funding for the new building through its Sustainable Communities for Learning Programme, while the rest will be funded by the council. The council added that when completed the 'community focussed' school will include specialist support and provision for pupils with challenging behaviour, emotional and social difficulties in a modern and innovative learning environment. The council also said that the new school will have learning spaces to deliver the new national curriculum, specialist equipment to support teaching and learning outcomes, as well as a fully equipped class base and outdoor learning area.
Yahoo
10-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Councillor will not resign despite critical report
A Powys councillor responsible for education said he will not resign despite an Estyn report which highly criticised the service. Opposition councillors called on Pete Roberts, who has the education portfolio, to resign in a meeting in Llandrindod Wells on Thursday. Roberts told the meeting he would not step down while he had the confidence of the council leader and its cabinet. In its report, Estyn said that Powys council "causes significant concern" in relation to its education services. Jeremy Pugh from the independents group requested a confidence vote in Roberts, which was seconded by Conservative councillor Aled Davies. However, the chair of the council said a motion of confidence should have been tabled before 17:00 BST on the day prior to the meeting. Some councillors also expressed a lack of confidence in the council leader James Gibson-Watt, Liberal Democrat who leads a partnership with the Labour group which jointly runs Powys Council. "This shouldn't be about having a go at each other. It's about achieving consensus and making improvements. "I have apologised to parents and pupils that we as a council have not supported them as we should," said Gibson-Watt. The Estyn inspector made four recommendations with the first calling on Powys council to urgently address "important school site security issues." During Thursday's meeting, the council heard that the cost of making these improvements across Powys is £1.6m, and that the council hopes to complete the improvements in the next year. The report also recommended strengthening the quality and impact of leadership, including political leadership, at all levels. It also included strengthening the quality of support and challenge schools to improve outcomes for all learners, including those with additional learning needs. The fourth recommendation was for a financially viable and sustainable model for 16-19 education. In response to the report the council has formed an accelerated improvement board to draw up an action plan and implement Estyn's recommendations. Emma Palmer, the council chief, is chair of the accelerated improvement board, which had its first meeting on 2 April. Ms Palmer added that the board has to deliver a wider improvement plan which goes beyond the four recommendations made in the Estyn report. Wales-England border school taken off closure list Four-day school week to cut costs ruled out Specialist school needs big improvement - watchdog
