ANY changes to language that could happen at Machynlleth’s Ysgol Bro Hyddgen in the future, won’t affect pupils already being taught there.

Chairman of School Governors and Glantwymyn County Councillor Elwyn Vaughan has written to parents to try and unite the area behind proposals for the school, and allay fears.

Earlier this month, Powys County Council’s Cabinet approved a decision to start the consultation process that could see Bro Hyddgen become a Welsh medium school.

Machynlleth County Councillor, Mike Williams (Independent) had told the meeting that some parents feared this change, and could look to take their children to be taught elsewhere.

At that meeting, education officer Marianne Evans had also explained that if this is all agreed, Welsh medium only education would start in 2022 with the reception class.

Every new reception class would then be taught in Welsh which would eventually build it up into a full Welsh medium school.

Plaid Cymru group leader Cllr Vaughan, said: “The consultation is one of many throughout Powys following a severely critical Estyn inspection report of many aspects of education in the County which highlighted the need for fundamental action especially in relation to ALN (Additional Learning Needs) Welsh medium and bilingual education and Post 16.

“Doing nothing was not an option.

“Any changes in the school resulting from the consultation will not affect anyone that’s already in the school and anyone who suggests otherwise is misinformed.”

Cllr Vaughan added that becoming a Welsh medium school would see the pupils become fully bilingual.

He also pointed to nearby schools where Welsh medium education is the norm, such as Carno, Llanbrynmair, and Glantwymyn in Powys, and nearby Corris, Dolgellau, Dysynni, and Barmouth in Gwynedd.

He also believed that similar changes had been done “successfully” in Ceredigion.

Cllr Vaughan added that the issues about the consultation had taken the lustre away from the Welsh Government’s decision to support investment worth £48 million for new school buildings at Bro Hyddgen, and a  leisure centre for the town

Cllr Vaughan, said: “Rather than be negative, let’s be united as a area and make the most of this investment in the future which will be the envy of many communities and benefit all our young people.”

Increasing  the number of Welsh medium schools is a cornerstone of the Strategy for Improving Education in Powys.

Machynlleth and the surrounding Dyfi Valley is a strong Welsh speaking area, and figures show that out of a total of 477 pupils at Bro Hyddgen, 332 are educated in Welsh and 145 in English.

The consultation is expected to start in December.