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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'.
BBC News
25-03-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Builth Wells: Welsh language school plans get go-ahead
Plans to establish a Welsh-medium only school have been approved amid concerns that Welsh-language pupils at mixed language schools are being let councillors approved the plan after a report concluded that establishing the school at the Builth Wells campus of Ysgol Calon Cymru, a bilingual secondary comprehensive, would improve secondary school provision in noted there were "significant concerns about the level of provision available to Welsh-medium learners in the area".Under the plans, the campus would be Welsh language only from 2029, with pupils who learn in English moving to the school's redeveloped Llandrindod Wells campus eight miles away. Over decades many pupils have travelled out of Powys to go to Welsh schools and the report to the council's cabinet said the range of subjects available in Welsh "varies significantly" and the curriculum offer was "increasingly limited" for Welsh Price from Llanwrtyd Wells used to have an 80-mile (128 km) round trip to go to a Welsh school, Ysgol Maes yr Yrfa in Carmarthenshire, because of the lack of a Welsh-medium secondary school in south Powys."Sadly, 37 years to this day, we are still waiting for a Welsh-medium high school in Brecon and Radnor," Iwan said. He said his parents drove him to and from school every day as "both of them are Welsh speaking and they wanted us to have the opportunity to study through the medium of Welsh".Iwan now has two children and he welcomed the decision, saying the school - which would cater for pupils from primary school age up to Year 9 - would "give them more benefits, being fluent in both languages". But the prospect of sending children from Builth Wells to Llandrindod to learn in English "makes no sense" according to Rhys Field, a butcher in the town."Nobody speaks Welsh around here anymore, nobody is calling for a new Welsh school," he added."And what about the additional costs of buses to take kids to Llandrindod and back?"The council's Plaid Cymru group leader Elwyn Vaughan said there had been "a desire for years to ensure Welsh-medium education provision in this part of Powys".He added that this would mean fewer children having to travel vast distances to get their education in Welsh out of the county.
