FOUR secondary schools in Brecon and Radnorshire could be closed and replaced with just two schools.

Powys County Council is proposing to close Brecon High and Gwernyfed High School in Three Cocks as well as Llandrindod and Builth Wells High Schools.

It would then open two new schools but they would operate from the current four schools sits until it could build new school buildings in Brecon and Builth Wells.

The new 11-18 school in Builth would deliver Welsh medium education for both south and mid Powys.

The 11-16 school in Brecon would replace Brecon High and Gwernyfed and is a revival of plans first put forward last March but shelved in the summer in the face of a legal challenge over the process followed by the council over proposing school closures.

The council had also been reviewing education in mid Powys and has now confirmed its intention to site a new school, to replace Llandrindod High and Builth Wells High, in Builth.

The proposals have been drawn up by the council’s Schools Organisation Review Panel and will be considered by the ruling independent cabinet on Tuesday, February 23.

Cabinet member for schools, Councillor Arwel Jones said: "Decisive action is needed in the region to strengthen our secondary provision, three of the four secondary schools are in special measures and the fourth is subject to Estyn monitoring. We must take action for the sake of our young learners.

"We have circulated the recommendations to the school’s governing bodies, teachers and local county councillors and there will be meetings to receive feedback before the cabinet considers the moves in February."

A full public consultation will be held if the plans are approved by the cabinet.

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