A CRUNCH meeting is being held in Machynlleth tonight to discuss the future of English language education provision at reception class age at Ysgol Bro Hyddgen.

Concerns have been raised by parents that the English stream could be removed as too few children have been signed up for classes to start in September.

Officially four pupils are set to start in the English stream which could make the class economically unviable.

This follows a public meeting that was held in the Town on Monday night, when around 80 residents voiced their concerns.

Parent Aimee Roberts will be sending her son Freddie to the school in September.

She said: “It was a good turnout, but the problem is that we’re just not getting answers. The teachers are fantastic but there are questions about the management.

“There are only five weeks of term to go and we need to know where our children will be going, not just being told that the school doesn’t know the position.

“I chose Bro Hyddgen because it’s dual stream, Freddie, hopefully, will be entering the English stream, his elder brothers are in the Welsh stream, if he flourishes he can change to the Welsh stream, he’ll be with his friends and brothers.

“We have already received letters saying that our choice has been accepted, this was before we were told about the problems with having an English stream at all.

“The nearest school with an English stream is Caersws, but all the places will be gone.

“This is not about numbers or money, it’s about our children’s happiness, safety and choices.”

Chairman of governors, Dr Huw Morgan, said: “I was at the meeting to listen to the people’s views and explain the situation.

“We don’t want to shut the English language stream.

“The school has suffered years of cuts and losing teachers. The official figures we’ve received is four children have signed up to the English classes, which is lower than normal.

“We’ve been told by other parents that they intend putting their children into the English stream, which takes us up to 10.

“But we haven’’t received official figures yet from Powys Council, unless we receive them, we may not be able to make a decision at our meeting on Thursday night (May 23).”

“I understand that people have strong feelings and emotions about this, and we hope that we can find a compromise going forward.”

Powys County Councillor, Elwyn Vaughan, who represents nearby Glantwymyn is a school governor, he said: “The meeting was an opportunity to explain the monetary squeeze the school has suffered cuts for years and every penny needs to be looked at..

“Parents expressed concerns about the provision of help for pupils with special needs,

“We know about the figure of 10 wanting to be taught trough English, but we’ve not received confirmation yet.

“It would still be a challenge even with 10.”

A spokesman for Powys County Council said that the schools service had received 24 applications for pupils to join Ysgol Bro Hyddgen’s reception year in September 2018 and the school has received this information.

The spokesman added: "Of these 21 pupils did not state a language preference as there was no option to do so on the online form.

"However, there was an option to do so on the paper form.

"Where no language preference is stated on the application form, we expect schools to verify each pupil’s language choice directly with parents/carers, and confirm this with Schools Service."