Mid Wales pupils facing cut to Welsh lessons

Pupils in Powys could be forced to travel miles to study lessons in Welsh if council chiefs push ahead with plans to close some school language units, it emerged today.

Seven Welsh language units at the county's 13 secondary schools could be reduced to three as part of Powys County Council's secondary school and post-16 modernisation review.

But Councillor Peter Lewis, from Llanfyllin, fears the move could lead to the Welsh language being lost in some communities.

He said proposals could see just one Welsh language unit being provided at either Llanfyllin High School or Llanfair Caereinion High School. Currently both schools have units.

Mr Lewis said that many pupils feared that Llanfyllin would lose out.

"If this happens then the Welsh language will really suffer in Llanfyllin," he said.

"I believe few Welsh parents in Llanfyllin would send their children to Llanfair Caereinion if it was decided that the Welsh medium school should be there."

But Powys County Council said proposals to close one of the Welsh language units at either Llanfyllin or Llanfair Caereinion was just one of the options being looked at.

Lee Evans, communications officer for the county council, said: "The consultation period began on January 31 and will end on May 3.

"The findings of the consultation will be published in the summer of 2011, when the council's board and Coleg Powys' governing body will consider all the issues and views received and will then decide how to proceed."

Meanwhile, campaigners from a closure-threatened Powys primary have started an online petition.

Trefnanney Primary School, near Meifod, is one of 11 schools placed in the firing line by Powys County Council because they have fewer than 30 pupils.

Martin Pearce, chairman of governors at Trefnanney Primary School, said the school, which currently has 24 pupils, had been established more than 140 years ago.

He said the school would be holding an open evening on March 11. To sign the petition visit www.petition buzz.com/petitions/trefnanney

By Anwen Evans