Powys County Council’s Cabinet will next week consider whether to begin the formal process that could ultimately lead to the closure of Gladestry Church in Wales School.

A report going before Cabinet on July 14 recommends launching a statutory consultation on the future of the school, with a potential closure date of August 31 2027 if the proposal is later approved.

Gladestry School currently has 31 pupils on roll and is the smallest school in Powys. The council says pupil numbers are forecast to fall further in the coming years.

If Cabinet agrees to proceed, a formal consultation would be opened with parents, pupils, staff, governors and local residents invited to give their views before any further decisions are taken.

Pupils would be expected to transfer to their nearest alternative schools within Powys if a closure were eventually confirmed.

The proposal forms part of the council’s Transforming Education Strategy, which it says is aimed to improve learner entitlement and experience while ensuring education provision remains sustainable for the future.

Councillor James Gibson-Watt, Powys County Council's Cabinet Member for a Learning Powys, said: "We recognise that schools are at the heart of their communities and that any proposal affecting a local school is significant and can be deeply concerning for pupils, families, staff and residents.

"However, we also have a responsibility to ensure that learners across Powys have access to the best possible educational opportunities in a sustainable way. Gladestry School currently has very low pupil numbers and projections indicate that these numbers are likely to fall further in the future.

"The recommendation before Cabinet is not a final decision to close the school. It is a recommendation to begin the statutory process so that we can formally consult with all those affected, listen carefully to their views and consider all the evidence before any decision is made.

"I would encourage everyone with an interest in the future of the school to take part in the consultation should Cabinet agree for the process to move forward."

The council says the preferred option would help address low pupil numbers, reduce surplus school places, provide access to a wider range of educational and extracurricular opportunities and support the long-term sustainability of education provision in the area. The proposal would also enable pupils to continue accessing education within Powys.

If approved, the consultation is expected to begin in September 2026. Any final decision on closure would only be made after the statutory process is completed, in line with the Welsh Government’s School Organisation Code.