THE town seen as the historic capital of Wales should soon have a Welsh medium all-through school.

From September 2022, the reception class at Machynlleth’s Bro Hyddgen is set to be taught in Welsh, in a move which will eventually see all classes from reception to sixth form taught in the language.

The proposals will not affect any pupils currently being taught at the school.

A consultation between December 2020 and January 2021 was discussed by the council's cabinet on Tuesday, having attracted 440 responses.

Just over 61 per cent of respondents backed the proposal, while 37.5 per cent are against and over 1.3 per cent didn’t know.

Powys County Councillor for Machynlleth, Michael Williams, told the cabinet that the “vast majority” of parents who spoke to him opposed the proposal – adding that the figures showing how many studied in Welsh (332) and English (145) was wrong.

Schools’ transformation manager, Marianne Evans, answered that the figures had been given by the school.

“Whatever the decision today, we get it right," said Cllr Williams.

Portfolio holder for Adult Social Care and Welsh language, Cllr Myfanwy Alexander, said: “We should remember, that Machynlleth is the historic capital of Wales, this is where Owain Glyndŵr held his parliament.

“It is an area surrounded by Welsh speaking heartland areas.

“There are a number of urban myths about Welsh medium education, that it makes people parochial and limits their chances and this is absolutely untrue.

“There is no better way than to give young people in Wales roots and wings to let them feel embedded in the past, the culture that has created them, that will allow them to fly into a global society.

“We owe our children more than ever a sense of belonging.”

Finance portfolio holder, Cllr Aled Davies, said that the “community has spoken.”

The decision was approved unanimously by cabinet

The next stage of the process will see legal process for the language change start.