Criticism over proposals to close sixth forms in county

Councillors have criticised proposals which could see Powys end up with just two sixth forms.

A Powys County Council learning and skills scrutiny committee meeting on Friday saw three options revealed as the outcome of a strategic review into post-16 education.

The preferred option would see a sixth form college with one management team set up across two sites in Brecon and Newtown, while another college would be set up across a number of Welsh medium schools.

Councillor Chloe Masefield, who represents Crickhowell, said she had "significant concerns" about the review.

The options will be subject to an "engagement" process which will allow people to give their views on the proposals over the next six months.

Council education staff stressed the current model with all schools having their own sixth form was not "financially viable".

The need to address post-16 provision has also been highlighted by education watchdog Estyn in a scathing report on the department published in March.

One option could see a sixth form college set up with one board of governors and management team across two sites in Brecon and Newtown.

Similarly, a sixth form college would be based across Welsh medium all-through schools at Ysgol Bro Hyddgen in Machynlleth, Bro Caereinion in Llanfair Caereinion and potentially Builth Wells.

The Welsh medium sixth form would be run separately.

Crickhowell has the biggest sixth form in Powys with many pupils coming from Monmouthshire and Blaenau Gwent.

"Crickhowell sixth form is operating incredibly successfully, bringing in students and funding from across the border and there's no argument to say that we should be closing it," Masefield said.

She warned "every single person in the area of Crickhowell" would object to the proposals.

Council Conservative group leader Aled Davies, who represents Llansilin and Llanrhaedr-ym-Mochnant, said he was concerned at the "lack of vision" of what Powys education could look like in 15 to 20 years' time.

Davies said successful sixth forms could be "swept up and lost" and that the work should focus on those sixth forms with small pupil numbers.

Sue McNicholas, who represents Ynyscedwyn near Ystradgynlais, said the area would lose pupils "in droves" across the border.

Plaid Cymru's Bryn Davies who represents Banwy, Llanfihangel and Llanwddyn, said for many school pupils in the north of Powys, Newtown is a distant place.

He said: "The only central location in the north I can see at the moment for this is in Welshpool, which was the old (Montgomeryshire) county town.

"It would be much more suitable for an English medium sixth form."

He asked whether this could be put forward as a potential option to be considered.

Dr Richard Jones, director of education, told the committee there had been "thorough engagement" ahead of the model being introduced and that "learning from that" had been taken onboard.

Dr Jones said: "That's provided us with a framework for three options to go out to engagement".

He said he believed going out to engagement without options would take the council "back to that pre Powys Sixth point", which was rolled out in 2022 with a focus on collaboration between schools.

Recommendations from the committee will be added to the report which is expected to go before the Liberal Democrat and Labour cabinet for a decision later this month to start the engagement process.