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Assessing the viability of establishing Welsh-medium provision in Dolau, near Llandrindod

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Consultation has concluded

The Council is investigating the viability of establishing Welsh-medium education in the current Llanfihangel Rhydithon C.P. School building in the village of Dolau, near Llandrindod Wells.

We are asking parents in the Llandrindod, Presteigne and Knighton areas to complete this questionnaire, to help us identify the possible demand for this type of provision. This will help the Council determine whether or not this provision would be viable in Dolau.

Further information about the questionnaire is available by e-mailing transforming.education@powys.gov.uk or phoning 01597 826618.

All responses must be received by Sunday 6th November.

What is Welsh-medium education?

Llanfihangel Rhydithon C.P. School is currently an English-medium school. In English-medium education, English is the main language used in teaching and for every day communication. Staff and pupils communicate in English both inside and outside the classroom. Pupils learn Welsh as a second language as part of the curriculum, however they do not normally become fluent in Welsh.

In Welsh-medium education, Welsh is the main language used in teaching and every day communication. Staff and pupils communicate in Welsh both inside and outside the classroom, and Welsh and English are used to communicate with parents. Most pupils that attend Welsh-medium education come from homes where no Welsh is spoken, however they are taught in Welsh using a technique called ‘immersion’, and become fluent in Welsh, as well as being able to communicate fluently in English.

In Powys, Welsh-medium education is delivered at two types of schools:

  • Welsh-medium schools – all pupils attend Welsh-medium education and become fluent in both Welsh and English. Ysgol Dafydd Llwyd in Newtown and Ysgol y Bannau in Brecon are examples of Welsh-medium schools.
  • Dual stream schools – pupils choose to either attend the Welsh-medium stream or the English-medium stream. Pupils in the Welsh-medium stream are taught in Welsh and become fluent in both Welsh and English. Pupils in the English-medium stream are taught in English and are taught Welsh as a second language. They do not normally become fluent in Welsh. Ysgol Trefonnen in Llandrindod and and Rhayader C. in W. School are examples of dual stream schools.

More information about Welsh-medium education is available on the Council’s website: https://en.powys.gov.uk/article/10742/Destination-bilingual-the-benefits-of-choosing-a-Welsh-medium-education

For information on how the Transforming Education Team protects and uses personal information collected during engagement processes, please see the Transforming Education privacy notice, which is available via the following link: https://en.powys.gov.uk/article/9803/Transforming-Education-Privacy-Notice

The Council is investigating the viability of establishing Welsh-medium education in the current Llanfihangel Rhydithon C.P. School building in the village of Dolau, near Llandrindod Wells.

We are asking parents in the Llandrindod, Presteigne and Knighton areas to complete this questionnaire, to help us identify the possible demand for this type of provision. This will help the Council determine whether or not this provision would be viable in Dolau.

Further information about the questionnaire is available by e-mailing transforming.education@powys.gov.uk or phoning 01597 826618.

All responses must be received by Sunday 6th November.

What is Welsh-medium education?

Llanfihangel Rhydithon C.P. School is currently an English-medium school. In English-medium education, English is the main language used in teaching and for every day communication. Staff and pupils communicate in English both inside and outside the classroom. Pupils learn Welsh as a second language as part of the curriculum, however they do not normally become fluent in Welsh.

In Welsh-medium education, Welsh is the main language used in teaching and every day communication. Staff and pupils communicate in Welsh both inside and outside the classroom, and Welsh and English are used to communicate with parents. Most pupils that attend Welsh-medium education come from homes where no Welsh is spoken, however they are taught in Welsh using a technique called ‘immersion’, and become fluent in Welsh, as well as being able to communicate fluently in English.

In Powys, Welsh-medium education is delivered at two types of schools:

  • Welsh-medium schools – all pupils attend Welsh-medium education and become fluent in both Welsh and English. Ysgol Dafydd Llwyd in Newtown and Ysgol y Bannau in Brecon are examples of Welsh-medium schools.
  • Dual stream schools – pupils choose to either attend the Welsh-medium stream or the English-medium stream. Pupils in the Welsh-medium stream are taught in Welsh and become fluent in both Welsh and English. Pupils in the English-medium stream are taught in English and are taught Welsh as a second language. They do not normally become fluent in Welsh. Ysgol Trefonnen in Llandrindod and and Rhayader C. in W. School are examples of dual stream schools.

More information about Welsh-medium education is available on the Council’s website: https://en.powys.gov.uk/article/10742/Destination-bilingual-the-benefits-of-choosing-a-Welsh-medium-education

For information on how the Transforming Education Team protects and uses personal information collected during engagement processes, please see the Transforming Education privacy notice, which is available via the following link: https://en.powys.gov.uk/article/9803/Transforming-Education-Privacy-Notice

Consultation has concluded

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    Welsh-medium viability study completed

    Work to explore the possibility of establishing Welsh-medium education at a new location in mid Powys has been completed, the county council has said.

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

    A key element of the work was engagement with parents in the area to understand their views about the potential establishment of Welsh-medium education in Dolau, as well as a viability study.

    Based on the findings of the work, the advice of officers is that establishing Welsh-medium provision in Dolau is not viable.

    The council is committed to improving access to Welsh-medium provision. However, 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.

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

    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 31 August 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.

    "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."