Cabinet to consider Cradoc campus consultation report

12 February 2026

A campus of a south Powys primary school could close if a recommendation to Cabinet is approved, the county council has said.

Powys County Council is proposing to close the Cradoc campus of Ysgol Golwg Pen y Fan and carried out a consultation on the proposal between November and December 2025. The findings of the consultation will be considered by Cabinet on Tuesday, February 24.

Cabinet will also be asked to continue with the process to close the Cradoc campus.

If given the go-ahead, the council will publish a statutory notice formally proposing the change. It would then be required to consider another report to conclude the process.

Ysgol Golwg Pen y Fan opened in September 2024 by bringing together three schools under one governing body. The school is currently spread across three sites in Brecon and Cradoc, before it moves to a brand-new, purpose-built school on the former Brecon High School site, designed to bring everyone together under one roof.

However, pupil numbers have fallen significantly at the Cradoc campus and the council is proposing to close the campus ahead of the move to the new building. Currently there are 15 pupils at the campus, dropping from 71 pupils since September 2024.

The proposal, which aligns to the council's Strategy for Transforming Education in Powys, is driven by a range of educational and operational benefits.

Consolidating sites will simplify leadership and management, reduce travel and duplicated efforts, and generate cost savings on maintenance and administration. It will also help balance pupil numbers across locations, reduce surplus places, and enable a more consistent educational offer for all learners.

Cllr James Gibson-Watt, Cabinet Member for a Learning Powys, said: "We want to thank everyone who contributed to the recent consultation on this proposal. Your views have been carefully considered as part of this process.

"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.

"Bringing staff and pupils together will support stronger collaboration, allow for more effective grouping by ability or need, and foster social development through larger peer groups. It also makes it more viable to run clubs, sports teams, and enrichment activities.

"This recommendation has not been made lightly, but we believe this proposal provides greater certainty ahead of the move to the new school building for Ysgol Golwg Pen y Fan."

To read the updated Strategy for Transforming Education 2020-2032 and details of the Transforming Education Programme - Wave 2 (2022 - 2027) visit Transforming Education