PLANS to gradually change the language category of a north Powys primary school to create a Welsh-medium school have been given the go-ahead by the local authority.

Powys County Council wants to change the language provision at Ysgol Dyffryn Trannon in Trefeglwys so that eventually it becomes a Welsh-medium education setting, ensuring all pupils attending the school become fully bilingual in Welsh and English.

It is currently a dual-stream school providing English-medium and Welsh-medium education for pupils aged 4 to 11.

Today (Tuesday, September 14) the council’s cabinet approved the proposal to make a regulated alteration to alter the medium of instruction at Ysgol Dyffryn Trannon from dual-stream to Welsh-medium on a phased basis after considering an objection report.

The change will be introduced on a phased basis, year-by-year, starting with reception in September 2022. It will not affect those pupils already at the school – those currently accessing English-medium provision at the school would be able to continue to access this provision until they leave school.

Leader of Powys County Council, Councillor Rosemarie Harris, said: “Moving Ysgol Dyffryn Trannon along the language continuum will help us meet the aims and objectives within our ‘Strategy for Transforming Education in Powys’.

“It will also ensure that all pupils attending the school have the opportunity to become fully bilingual, fluent in both Welsh and English, therefore contributing to the Welsh Government’s aspiration to achieve a million Welsh speakers by 2050.”

To find out more about Welsh-medium education in Powys, visit http://en.powys.gov.uk/schools and click on ‘Destination Bilingual’.

For more information about transforming education in Powys, visit www.powys.gov.uk/transformingeducation.