Four primary schools in Welshpool could be replaced by £13 million super school

Powys County Council said its cabinet will this week meet to discuss plans for a new 420-pupil English language school to be built near Welshpool High School.

It would also see a 120-pupil Welsh language school open in the town - possibly at the site currently home to Ysgol Maesydre.

It would result in Ardwyn, Gungrog and Oldford schools closing.

The council's cabinet will meet on January 26 to discuss the plans.

Councillor Arwel Jones, cabinet member for education, said: "Many of the buildings in use are in a poor condition, there is increasing demand for Welsh-medium education, a need for continued faith provision and a need to reduce the number of surplus places in the schools - currently averaging at 22 per cent per school.

"We also face a challenging education model with three infant schools feeding into one junior school, which is impacting on pupil transition at a key point in their development.

"The review is recommending that we replace the existing schools with a new 420 pupil English-medium Church in Wales School which could be located near the high school and a new 120 pupil Welsh-medium community primary school located on the Maesydre site."

The total investment is estimated at £12.75m.

School governors in Welshpool have spoken positively ahead of the meeting.

Councillor Pritchard said the fabric of the building at Ysgol Maesydre was "not good".

"If pupils have a nice, tidy, good standard school building, that better setting will make all the difference for them and their studies," Councillor Pritchard said today.

Derek Simms, chairman of governors at Ardwyn School and also a governor at Oldford School, said the new schools are a "great opportunity" for the town.

He said: "I think this is a very welcome initiative and I think it will be a great opportunity for not just the pupils but also parents and staff. I personally think given the size of the individual schools that putting them together into an English and also a Welsh medium makes sense and will be extremely positive for all involved.

"This has been a long process where meetings have taken place behind the scenes but that's given people a chance to raise any ideas and bring their ideas to the table, which is why we're at the point where we're at now."