Smaller school sixth forms in Powys could close before proposals to overhaul post-16 education in the county are fully finalised.

At a meeting of Powys County Council’s Liberal Democrat/Labour cabinet on Tuesday, May 13, councillors agreed to begin two terms of engagement that will shape the future of post-16 education in the county.

The aim is to tackle the exodus of sixth form pupils to neighbouring counties, improve A-level results, and make the current system more financially sustainable.

But while full-scale reform could take years to implement, the report before councillors highlighted that some changes to the current sixth form model — known as Chweched Powys Sixth — may happen much sooner.

The Chweched Powys model was introduced in 2022 to encourage more collaboration and remote learning between schools. Under this system, a student in one part of the county might be taught a subject by a teacher based many miles away, with lessons delivered online.

The model is overseen by a Strategic Management Board, supported by an Operational Management Board. The report said two new sub-groups – a curriculum group and a co-ordination group – would now be created to help improve course planning and reduce duplication across the system.

“This approach will help deliver a curriculum offer for Powys Chweched Sixth that removes duplication as much as possible,” the report said.

During the meeting, Conservative group leader Cllr Aled Davies raised concerns that some sixth forms may not survive the short term.

“I’m guessing that this may lead to potential closures of some small sixth forms in the short term – you have a sixth form which is down to 18 pupils and clearly unsustainable,” said Cllr Davies.

He asked whether a future cabinet decision would be needed to close such a sixth form.

Marianne Evans, the council’s head of education transformation, said “Headteachers have agreed the curriculum offer year by year. We know that next year the funding will not allow us to deliver the current number of courses that we have – so some harsh and difficult decisions will need to be taken for September 2026, which means that planning work has to happen now.”

She added that strengthening the management boards with the two new groups would help the council develop “clear criteria” for deciding which courses are delivered at which sites from September 2026.

“That may see a reduction of courses in some of our sixth forms,” Ms Evans said.

She stressed that decisions must be made quickly so that pupils sitting their GCSEs next year know what their options are for post-16 education.

Clive Pinney, the council’s head of legal services, said he would need to review the original governance arrangements for the Chweched Powys model to determine whether formal cabinet approval would be required for any future sixth form closures.

According to figures from October 2024, the number of sixth form pupils (lower and upper sixth combined) at each Powys school is:

Brecon High School – 18.

Crickhowell High School – 197.

Gwernyfed High School (Three Cocks)  – 42.

Llanidloes High School – 79.

Maesydderwen High School (Ystradygynlais) – 61.

Newtown High School – 46.

Welshpool High School – 132

Ysgol Bro Caereinion (Llanfair Caereinion – 36.

Ysgol Bro Hyddgen (Machynlleth) – 51.

Ysgol Calon Cymru (Llandrindod Wells & Builth Wells) – 90.

Ysgol Llanfyllin – 123.