Cabinet members will be asked at their meeting on Tuesday 20 October to approve the change following the identification of challenges linked to the building work needed to prepare the site for the new school.

The new school forms part of the approved transformation proposals for Ysgol Calon Cymru and Builth Wells Community Primary School and will provide Welsh-medium education for children and young people aged four to 18.

Since the project was approved earlier this year, significant progress has been made, including setting up a temporary governing body, agreeing the new school's name, beginning the recruitment of a headteacher and working on plans for the site.

However, further work on the building design has identified challenges around procurement, construction timescales and ensuring all works can be completed safely before primary and early years pupils move onto the Ysgol Calon Cymru site. Moving the opening date to September 2028 would provide enough time for the work to be completed and give the new school the best possible start.

If approved, Ysgol Bro Epynt would open to pupils from Reception to Year 9 in September 2028. Builth Wells Primary School and Ysgol Calon Cymru would continue to provide dual-stream education until August 2028.

There would be no change to the second phase of the approved proposals, to provide a replacement building for Ysgol Calon Cymru in Llandrindod Wells, which remains planned for September 2029 at the earliest.

Councillor James Gibson-Watt, Powys County Council's Cabinet Member for a Learning Powys, said: "We remain fully committed to delivering Ysgol Bro Epynt and creating new opportunities for Welsh-medium education in Powys.

"A great deal of progress has already been made, and this recommendation is about making sure we get the opening of the new school right.

"Our priority is to provide pupils and staff with a safe, high-quality learning environment from day one. By allowing more time for the building work to be completed, we can reduce risks, provide greater certainty for families and give the new school the strongest possible start."

If Cabinet approves the recommendation, work to establish the new school will continue, including the recruitment of a headteacher, curriculum planning and engagement with pupils, parents and the wider community. Procurement and construction work will also continue to ensure the site is ready for the school's planned opening in September 2028.