July 13, 2021
Consultation to be held on small school closure proposal
Consultation on a proposal to close a small north Powys primary school will begin in September, the county council has said.
Powys County Council is committed to bring forward plans to deliver an improved learner offer for children and young people by delivering its Strategy for Transforming Education in Powys 2020-2030.
Today (Tuesday, July 13) Cabinet agreed to start consultation in September on a proposal to close Ysgol Bro Cynllaith, Llansilin.
Cllr Phyl Davies, Cabinet Member for Education and Property, said: “We are committed to transforming the learner experience and entitlement for our learners and we will achieve this by delivering our Strategy for Transforming Education in Powys 2020-2030. Our strategy is ambitious, exciting and we believe it will give our learners the best possible start they deserve.
“However, as we start to implement it, we will be faced with significant decisions as we look to address some of the challenges facing education in Powys which include the high proportion of small schools in the county, decreasing pupil numbers and the high number of surplus places.
“The proposal to close Ysgol Bro Cynllaith has not been reached lightly. Not only have they been robustly challenged by senior leaders within the council at every step, but the proposal has also been developed with the best interest of the learners, who have been at the forefront of our discussions and decision-making.
“If this school was to close, then the learners would be attending schools that would be better equipped to meet the requirements of the new national curriculum and that could provide a wider range of educational and extra-curricular opportunities.
“We will now start formal consultation on this proposal in September and it will be important that all stakeholders provide us with their views.”