Four small Welsh medium schools threatened with closure

Four small Welsh medium primaries with falling pupils numbers will shut next year with the local council warning they are no longer financially or educationally viable. Reports going to Ceredigion Council cabinet next week show deficits of more than £50,000 at the schools, which have just 90 pupils between them.

If agreed Ysgol Llanfihangel y Creuddyn, Ysgol Craig yr Wylfa in Borth, Ysgol Llangwyryfon and Ysgol Syr John Rhys in Ponterwyd will shut in August 2025. The council says the cost per pupil at the four schools is up to £3,000 more than the average for the county.

Welsh language campaigners criticised the plans saying they go against the Welsh Government's code on a presumption to keep small Welsh medium schools open. Cymdeithas Yr Iath said it would launch a complaint with the Education Minister Lynne Neagle if Ceredigion Council cabinet agrees to launch consultations to shut the schools. Join our WhatsApp community group where you can get the latest stories delivered straight to your phone.

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Reports detailing the pressures each primary faces is going to Ceredigion Council cabinet on Tuesday September 3 with the recommendation they all shut on August 31 2025. The reports show how pupil numbers have been falling steadily since 2020 with one of the four less than half full.

For each school the reports warn that teaching staff “face the challenge of preparing for and teaching one mixed age and mixed ability class across the whole of the foundation learning phase and one mixed age mixed ability class across key stage two.” All have more than one in four places unfilled.

Ysgol Llanfihangel y Creuddyn

The report says this school has just 19 pupils compared to 30 in 2020 and pupil numbers are projected to remain at 19 or less over the next five years. Currently there are 17 surplus places at Ysgol Llanfihangel y Creuddyn, or 46% of its capacity.

Cost per pupil runs at £2,343 more than the Ceredigion average of £4,635. The school faces a deficit of £27,488 deficit by March 2025, the report to cabinet adds.

Ysgol Craig yr Wylfa, Borth

Pupil numbers have fallen from 42 to 29 since 2020 and are expected to drop to 22 within five years. Currently there are 44 surplus places at Ysgol Craig yr Wylfa making it 59% empty.

On top of that the cost per pupil at Ysgol Craig yr Wylfa is £7,640, which is £3,005 higher than the Ceredigion average. The school faces a £3,368 deficit by next March.

Ysgol Llangwyryfon

Pupil numbers have dropped from 46 to 30 since 2020 and are projected to drop to 22 by 2029. There are 25 surplus places at Ysgol Llangwyryfon (45%) and the cost per pupil is £6,321, which is £1,686 higher than the Ceredigion average.

The school faces a deficit of more than £23,000 by next March.

Syr John Rhys CP School

Pupil numbers have fallen from 25 to 2022 since 2020 and are projected to drop to 17 by 2029. There are 18 surplus places at Ysgol Syr John Rhys, or 46% of the school’s capacity.

Cost per pupil is £7,949 - £3,314 higher than the Ceredigion average. On top of this the school faces backlog maintenance costs of £77,500.

Welsh language campaigners vow to save schools

Cymdeithas yr Iaith said if councillors agrees to consult on shutting the schools it would “immediately submit” a complaint to Education Minister Lynne Neagle that Ceredigion Council is not fulfilling its educational duties and is going against the School Organisation Code. As a result of a similar complaint in 2019, Ynys Mon Council had to stop the process of trying to close two primary schools in the county.

Ffred Ffransis from Cymdeithas yr Iaith education group said: “Not only are Ceredigion Council intent on undermining a number of Welsh speaking communities and emptying them of younger families, but the whole process is also completely contrary to the presumption in favour of maintaining rural schools which is an essential part of the 2018 edition of the Schools Organisation Code.

“Ceredigion have looked at these schools in the context of trying to make immediate savings to their budget, and have therefore adopted a practical presumption against maintaining the schools, which are being asked to justify their existence despite their academic success.

“The Government Code insists that all other options must be considered while proposals are still at a formative stage - that is before a proposal is made. Yet the officials are proposing going to a statutory consultation on their established option and invite comments on other options during statutory consultation.

“If the minister allowed Ceredigion to get away with this blatant disregard of the principle of presumption in favour of rural schools, then the whole government policy would be discredited.”

Mr Ffrancis said earlier this summer the group warned Ceredigion’s officials that they were risking breaking the Code and suggested a meeting, but had had no reply to that request.

“We appeal to Cabinet members to reject the recommendation and their path to confrontation with local communities, but rather insist on an open discussion with no threats of closure casting a shadow over such discussions.”

In May last year Ceredigion’s cabinet approved the ‘Principles for Ensuring Sustainable Education Infrastructure’ (Appendix C) document which now forms the basis for any proposed school re-organisation proposal where one or more of the following principles are not met :

• Continue to ensure excellent provision, leadership and standards in schools/settings for all groups of pupils, which reflects the requirements of Curriculum for Wales and the Additional Learning Needs Code

• Continue to build capacity to ensure that school leaders have the appropriate time to lead and manage their schools

• Continue to develop Welsh language provision to ensure the bilingual competencies of our children and young people

• Continue to develop education provision for 3 year olds in schools as is appropriate

• Provide excellent learning environments for children, young people, staff and the wider community

• Make effective and efficient use of resources to ensure a sustainable infrastructure

• Ensure parity and equity of access to a broad range of learning opportunities post 14 and 16 courses to prepare highly skilled and well-qualified children and young people for their next steps in education, training or the workplace.”

Ceredigion Council was approached for comment.