A feasibility study into expanding a Powys primary school must be completed before a consultation on closing two more begins.

Powys County Council’s Independent/Conservative cabinet revisited the reorganisation of primary schools in the Llanfyllin catchment area at a meeting on Thursday, March 18.

They were presented with a proposal to close schools in Llanfechain  and Llangedwyn – which share a headteacher – and to apply to the Welsh Government for £50,000, so that new extension to Llansantffraid primary school can be built.

All three are Church in Wales schools.

Comments from Llansantffraid County Councillor, Gwynfor Thomas (Conservative) who also represents Llanfechain, were read out to members.

He said:  “I am supportive of increasing the size of the Llansantffraid to a level that provides a sustainable future to the school.

“This has had the support of governors before learning of the new proposals, as it’s much needed.

“On the other hand, it is difficult to comprehend the proposals for the two federated schools of Llangedwyn and Llanffechain, both are popular and Llanfechain continues to grow.”

Numbers show that Llanfechain has gone up to 43 pupils.

Finance portfolio holder, Cllr Aled Davies (Conservative) who is also the county councillor for Llangedwyn, said: “Llangedwyn is a small school, the actual number of children from within that catchment area is less than 10.

“It attracts others because of the quality of education there.

“Because of those low numbers we should go to formal consultation on the closures, and any inaccuracies in these reports can be drawn out in that process.

“It’s important that the community participates.”

Councillors were told that discussions with the Diocese of St Asaph have already been taking place about whether the closures could go ahead if Llansantffraid did not close.

This has seen the proposals for the area re-jigged since they were first brought out in September 2020.

Senior education service manager, Marianne Evans, said that Llansantffraid primary school was full, and an extension was already agreed.

The talks with the diocese she said, had made it “apparent” that if Llanfechain and Llangedwyn were to close, then offer of places in an alternative Church in Wales school is needed.

Ms Evans explained that there is a need to provide a feasibility study on the Llansantffraid extension, before the proposal goes out to consultation.

She believed this could be finished by the end of June.

Ms Evans: “It will give us far more detail around the works required – then a business justification case would be submitted to the Welsh Government for funding, only after that should we proceed to consult.”

The cabinet backed the proposal unanimous and it is expected that both schools will close on August 31, 2023.