Three schools open in Powys as part of £37m shake-up

12 September 2012

Three new primary schools have opened in Powys as part of a £37m shake-up of education in the county.

The buildings are part of a modernisation project in and around Ystradgynlais, and a Welsh-medium school is planned to open in January.

Pupils moved into Ysgol Bro Tawe in Glanrhyd, Ysgol y Cribarth in Abercraf and Ysgol Golwg y Cwm, Penrhos, on Monday.

The four new schools are replacing 10 as part of the scheme.

There have been objections to the location of the Welsh-medium school, Ysgol Gymraeg Dyffryn y Glowyr, with an action group claiming it is too small.

But Powys council has said it is large enough to accommodate the pupils.

Until January the new Welsh-medium school will operate from existing schools at Ynysgedwyn and Cwmtwrch.

Final approval

The project also includes the refurbishment of Maesydderwen Secondary School in Ystradgynlais.

A Powys council spokesman said each of the new schools would be home to between 180 and 300 pupils.

Education Minister Leighton Andrews is expected to visit the schools on 4 October and will make a return visit in January, the council adds.

Plans to close the 10 primary schools and build four new replacements were given final approval by the Welsh government last year.