Powys schools reorganisation timetable agreed

Ysgol Carno has won a reprieve as part of a three-school federation

A timetable has been agreed for reorganising education in Llanidloes and Machynlleth in Powys.

Some schools will link up to share staff and resources and a new through school created in Machynlleth.

Plans to federalise Ysgol Llanbrynmair, Ysgol Glantwymyn and Ysgol Carno schools plus a similar tie-up of Llanidloes High School and Llanidloes Primary School will now go ahead.

The latest decisions were described by the council as a "major step forward".

Ysgol Carno near Newtown had previously been earmarked for closure with pupils moving to nearby Llanbrynmair.

But the council announced earlier this month that it could join Ysgol Llanbrynmair and Ysgol Glantwymyn to form a "Welsh-medium area federation".

This was welcomed by the Ysgol Carno SOS action group who said the council had "listened to the feedback from the community and that feedback has been very strong".

On Tuesday Powys cabinet members backed all recommendations and agreed a timetable for changes.

The option of federation between Ysgol Llanbrynmair, Ysgol Glantwymyn and Ysgol Carno will be pursued by September 2014.

A proposed closure of Llandinam County Primary School will be delayed until the autumn term this year to take account of a number of Estyn inspection reports expected over the summer.

'Secure and permanent'

In Machynlleth, September 2014 has been set as the target completion date for a new through school which will cater for 4 to 18 year olds.

This will involve the merger of Ysgol Bro Ddyfi and Machynlleth Primary School with a single governing body and a permanent head teacher.

The two schools have both had acting heads for over three years.

"This will provide a secure and permanent model of education, ensuring the future of secondary and primary education in the town," said the report before the cabinet.

A date has yet to be set for the federalising of Llanidloes High School and Llanidloes Primary School.

The schools, which already share a campus and some facilities, would have a single governing body but they would remain as separate schools for the purposes of funding and Estyn inspections.

Myfanwy Alexander, Powys cabinet member for learning and leisure, said: "We have been reviewing schools in the Llanidloes Machynlleth catchment area for some time and today's decision is a major step forward in that process.

"We want to provide the best possible educational opportunities possible for our youngsters."