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Powys primary school set to close despite objections

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.
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