HOPES of establishing Welsh-medium education at a closing village school in Mid Powys have been dashed.

Powys County Council had been exploring the viability of establishing Welsh-medium education in the current Llanfihangel Rhydithon C.P. School building in Dolau near Llandrindod Wells.

The school was due to close in the summer, but this has been put back to August 2023.

A key element of the work was engagement with parents in the area to understand their views, as well as a viability study.

But based on the findings of the work, the advice of council officers is that establishing Welsh-medium provision in Dolau is not viable due to its size and location.

Cllr Pete Roberts, cabinet member for a Learning Powys, said: “Within scrutiny before the election, I called for an analysis for the viability of using the Dolau site as a new Welsh-medium school for East Radnorshire.

“Following the election, the new Cabinet has delayed the implementation of the proposal to close Llanfihangel Rhydithon C.P School for 12 months to August 31, 2023 to ensure this proposition has been thoroughly considered and an opportunity for developing the language is not lost.

“This work has been completed and I would like to thank all those that responded to the questionnaire."

Cllr Roberts stressed that the council is committed to improving access to Welsh-medium provision. But he added concerns have been raised about whether Dolau is the right strategic location to support the growth of Welsh-medium education due to the very small size of the school.

Parents wishing for their children to access Welsh-medium education in the area are able to attend Ysgol Trefonnen or Rhayader Church in Wales Primary School, and they would be eligible for free home to school transport to their nearest Welsh-medium provider.

He added: “Cabinet will now consider the findings of the viability study and the questionnaire responses, the advice from officers and the views of the Welsh Medium Education Forum and the Learning and Skills Scrutiny Committee before making its decision.”

The viability study and the questionnaire findings will be reviewed by the Welsh Medium Education Forum (WMEF) on Monday, December 12 and by the council’s Learning and Skills Scrutiny Committee on Wednesday, December 14 before being considered by cabinet on Tuesday, December 20.