Hundreds expected at Llanidloes school meeting

Hundreds of people are expected to turn out at a public meeting tonight in Llanidloes to discuss controversial plans for a shake-up of secondary and sixth form education in Mid Wales.

Powys County Council is holding meetings at all 13 secondary schools and Coleg Powys campuses across the county up until May.

The first meeting was held in Welshpool on Monday and tonight's meeting will be held at Llanidloes Community Centre at 7pm.

Councillor David Jones, board member for schools, said: "The future of our secondary and post-16 education is of vital importance.

"We urge parents, pupils, governors and the public across the county to get involved and have their say."

A consultation document with a questionnaire has also been produced and is now available on the council's website.

Controversial plans to radically transform secondary education in Powys, which could result in the closure of sixth forms, have already been approved by councillors.

Management could also be streamlined and schools merged after the council's ruling board backed the big shake-up earlier this year.

Although the overall plans have been approved a decision has not yet been made on exactly who or what will be affected by the changes.

It comes as parents at a Shropshire school facing the axe — Barrow near Broseley — reacted with anger after hearing millions of pounds is claimed to be stashed away in school bank accounts across the county.

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