SCHOOL transformation “plans are too vague to give an opinion” say some Powys pupils.

Those that took part in the “engagement exercise” by filling in a questionnaire believe that “greater clarity of details is needed as well as a simpler document published that could be read by younger children”.

Others say they need an attractive choice of subjects at both GCSE and A-level to stop them leaving to study in neighbouring counties.

The pupils spoke out as part of a plan to overhaul education in Powys, with a 10-year strategy to transform the county's schools due to go before Powys County Council leader Cllr Rosemarie Harris on Tuesday.

This is partly a response to a critical Estyn report published in September 2019 , some schools facing chronic financial issues and a historical lack of political decision making.

The views of school pupils and students have been added into the melting melting pot of information used in the School Transformation Strategy document.

According to the “engagement” report 206 people identified themselves as school pupils completed the engagement questionnaire.

There were also 110 written responses and completed questionnaires were also received from 13 school councils.

Their views on education from the age of 14 upwards as well as post-16 education were looked at by the Local Democracy Reporting Service for the County Times.

Overall 35.8 per-cent of pupils agreed or strongly agreed that the document set out a clear enough vision for developing 14-19 provision.

Among their additional comments, some asked for additional choice for 14-year-olds, more attractive provision for 14 to 19-year-olds to keep them in the county, more careers advice and new, "good quality" facilities.

For post-16 study, pupils asked to retain local sixth forms and limit travelling, promotion of distance learning, and improvement of what's available to prevent them travelling out of the county.

In 2018/19 it was estimated that  450 post-16 pupils were being taught in neighbouring counties, including in Shropshire and Herefordshire.

The loss of pupils means that the funding for them from the Welsh Government is lost to Powys schools.