POWYS County Council have begun consultation on a proposal to close a mid-Powys primary school.

The proposal to close Llanfihangel Rhydithon County Primary School comes when Powys County Council is looking to reconfigure primary school provision in the county as part of its Strategy for Transforming Education in Powys 2020-2030.

The council wants to hear from the public on these plans.

If the proposal goes ahead, the school could close at the end of August 2022 with pupils transferring to their nearest alternative school.

Dr Caroline Turner, Chief Executive of Powys County Council, said: “We are committed to transforming the learner experience and entitlement for our learners and we will achieve this by delivering our Strategy for Transforming Education in Powys 2020-30.

“Our strategy is ambitious, exciting and we believe it will give our learners the best possible start they deserve. However, as we start to implement it, we will be faced with significant decisions as we look to address some of the challenges facing education in Powys which include the high proportion of small schools in the county, decreasing pupil numbers and the high number of surplus places.

“This proposal has not been reached lightly but we have ensured that the best interest of the learners at this school were at the forefront of our discussions and decision making.

“If this school is 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.

“However, it is important that the people of this community as well as the wider area have their say on this proposal. I would urge then to send their views so they can be considered.”