Language change considered for mid Wales school
A consultation to decide if a school should deliver all its lessons in Welsh could be on the cards.
Proposals to change the language provision at Ysgol Bro Hyddgen in Mid Wales will be considered by Powys County Council’s cabinet next week.
The school in Machynlleth is currently a dual-stream school providing English-medium and Welsh-medium education for pupils aged four to 18.
Powys County Council is proposing the language change so that eventually it would become a Welsh-medium education setting, enabling all pupils to become fully bilingual.
If it goes ahead, the proposed change would be introduced on a phased basis, year-by-year, starting with the reception class in September 2022.
The council says pupils already at the school would not be affected. Additional support would be given for those needing to improve their Welsh language skills.
Councillor Phyl Davies, Cabinet Member for Education and Property, said: “Ysgol Bro Hyddgen is located in a traditionally Welsh-speaking area and the number of English-medium pupils attending primary provision in Machynlleth has decreased.
“Ensuring all its pupils have the opportunity to become bilingual will contribute to the Welsh Government’s aspiration to reach a million Welsh speakers by 2050.”
