Consultation on proposals to close four small schools in Powys will begin later this month, the county council has said.

Powys County Council is looking to reconfigure and rationalise the primary school provision in the county as part of its Strategy for Transforming Education in Powys 2020-2030.

The council is proposing to close the following four small primary schools:

Castle Caereinon Church in Wales School

Churchstoke County Primary School

Llanbedr Church in Wales School

Llanfihangel Rhydithon County Primary School

Cabinet today (Tuesday, February 9) agreed to start the statutory process and consultation on the proposals will now start later this month (February).

The schools could close at the end of August 2022, with pupils transferring to their nearest alternative school, if the proposals are approved.

Cllr Phyl Davies, Cabinet Member for Education and Property, said: “We are committed to transforming the learner experience and entitlement for our learners and we will achieve this by delivering our Strategy for Transforming Education in Powys 2020-2030.

“Our strategy is ambitious, exciting and we believe it will give our learners the best possible start they deserve. However, as we start to implement it, we will be faced with significant decisions as we look to address some of the challenges facing education in Powys which include the high proportion of small schools in the county, decreasing pupil numbers and the high number of surplus places.

“These proposals have not been reached lightly but we have ensured that the best interest of the learners at these four schools were at the forefront of our discussions and decision-making.

“If these schools were to close, then the learners would be attending schools that would be better equipped to meet the requirements of the new national curriculum and that could provide a wider range of educational and extra-curricular opportunities.

“We will now start formal consultation on the proposals later this month.”