Welsh-medium viability study completed

8 December 2022

Work to explore the possibility of establishing Welsh-medium education at a new location in mid Powys has been completed, the county council has said.

Powys County Council has investigated the viability of establishing Welsh-medium education in the current Llanfihangel Rhydithon C.P. School building in Dolau near Llandrindod Wells.

A key element of the work was engagement with parents in the area to understand their views about the potential establishment of Welsh-medium education in Dolau, as well as a viability study.

Based on the findings of the work, the advice of officers is that establishing Welsh-medium provision in Dolau is not viable.

The council is committed to improving access to Welsh-medium provision. However, concerns have been raised about whether Dolau is the right strategic location to support the growth of Welsh-medium education due to the very small size of the school.

Parents wishing for their children to access Welsh-medium education in the area are able to attend Ysgol Trefonnen or Rhayader Church in Wales Primary School, and they would be eligible for free home to school transport to their nearest Welsh-medium provider.

The viability study and the questionnaire findings will be reviewed by the Welsh Medium Education Forum (WMEF) on Monday, 12th December and by the council's Learning and Skills Scrutiny Committee on Wednesday, December 14 before being considered by Cabinet on Tuesday, 20th December.

Cllr Pete Roberts, Cabinet Member for a Learning Powys, said: "Within Scrutiny before the election, I called for an analysis for the viability of using the Dolau site as a new Welsh-medium school for East Radnorshire.

"Following the election, the new Cabinet has delayed the implementation of the proposal to close Llanfihangel Rhydithon C.P School for 12 months to 31 August 2023 to ensure this proposition has been thoroughly considered and an opportunity for developing the language is not lost.

"This work has been completed and I would like to thank all those that responded to the questionnaire.

"Cabinet will now consider the findings of the viability study and the questionnaire responses, the advice from officers and the views of the Welsh Medium Education Forum and the Learning and Skills Scrutiny Committee before making its decision."