Another primary school in Powys could close by the end of next summer, the county council has announced.
A proposal to close Irfon Valley C.P. School in Garth, Llangammarch Wells will be considered this month.
Powys County Council has said the proposal comes following a “significant decrease” in pupil numbers at the school and discussions with the school’s governing body.
Following their review, council officers have recommended to Cabinet that the statutory process begins on a proposal to close the school from August 31 2024.
If this proposal was to go ahead, pupils currently based at the site would be transferred to their nearest alternative schools in Powys.
The council has said that while this is not part of an area catchment review, the Transforming Education Work Programme allows for reviews of individual schools on a case-for-case basis, based on specific circumstances.
All changes will be subject to the statutory school reorganisation process which involves further extensive consultation with schools and their communities, before any final decisions are made.
Also being considered by the council this month are plans to increase the capacity of the proposed new school building at Ysgol Calon y Dderwen in Newtown so that pupils from Treowen C.P. School can also be included. It is the intention that, from September 2025, pupils continue to attend the existing Treowen building until the new building at Ysgol Calon y Dderwen is ready.
When the new building opens, the Treowen site closes and all pupils then move to the new school building for Ysgol Calon y Dderwen. Cabinet will be asked to approve the start of formal consultation.
Cllr Pete Roberts, Cabinet Member for a Learning Powys, said: "Securing the best start in life for our young people is the only way that we can build a Stronger, Fairer and Greener Powys. One of the ways we can achieve this is by transforming education.
“I believe that these proposals meet the aims of the Strategy for Transforming Education in Powys as we look to improve the learner entitlement and experience while delivering 21st century facilities that would provide environments where learners and teachers thrive and reach their potential.
“The Irfon Valley proposal sits outside my preferred approach of reviewing entire catchments but it is essential for us to remain flexible and respond to concerns raised by individual governing bodies.”
The latest plans for all of the above schools will be considered by the council’s Learning and Skills Scrutiny Committee on Wednesday, October 18 and by Cabinet on Tuesday, October 24.
The council has said it is looking to continue to deliver the next wave of its Transforming Education Programme, which was relaunched last year along with an updated version of the Strategy for Transforming Education in Powys.
To read the updated Strategy for Transforming Education 2020-2032 and details of the Transforming Education Programme - Wave 2 (2022 - 2027) visit https://en.powys.gov.uk/transformingeducation