Consultation plans to close two rural schools near Llanfyllin will be considered later this week.

Powys County Council is proposing to close Llanfechain Church in Wales School and Llangedwyn Church in Wales School by September 2023 with pupils transferred to their nearest alternative school.

Cllr Phyl Davies, Cabinet Member for Education and Property, said the proposals have "not been reached lightly".

“If these schools were to close, then the learners would be attending schools that would be better equipped to meet the requirements of the new national curriculum and that could provide a wider range of educational and extra-curricular opportunities," he said".

Cabinet will be asked to start the statutory process to close the two schools on Thursday, March 18.

As part of the proposals, Cabinet will be asked to move ahead with plans for a new extension to Llansantffraid Church in Wales School with a business justification case that will be sent to the Welsh Government.

They will also be asked to start the statutory process to to increase the capacity of the school by 90 places from September 2023 after the new extension is completed.

Powys County Council is looking to reconfigure and rationalise the primary school provision in the county as part of its Strategy for Transforming Education in Powys 2020-2030.

Cllr Davies described the council's strategy to solve a high proportion of small schools, decreasing pupil numbers and high number of surplus as "ambitious" and "exciting".

He said: “Staff at all our schools have been working in extraordinary circumstances due to the Covid-19 pandemic and I want to pay tribute to their hard work and commitment during this extremely difficult period.

“However, we need to ensure that we can give our learners the best possible start they deserve so it is important that we continue with our transformation plans for education and deliver our strategy.”