FEARS have been raised that parents might decide to send their children to school outside Powys, if a decision is made to teach all the pupils through Welsh.

At their meeting on Tuesday, 10 November, Powys Council’s Cabinet unanimously voted to go ahead with a consultation process to alter the language of education, at Machynlleth’s Ysgol Bro Hyddgen all-through school.

The consultation is on a proposal to phase in Welsh medium education only, starting with the Reception class in September 2022.

At the moment pupils are taught in both Welsh and English.

At the meeting Machynlleth county councillor Mike Williams urged cabinet to drop the proposal, and said he had spoken to many parents who had concerns about the changes.

Cllr Williams, said: “Parents express anguish, frustration and hurt about the proposal to start the consultation to change the language provision.

“It’s only right and proper I bring the rights of my constituents to you.

Cllr Williams said  during discussions on the merger of Ysgol Bro Dyfi and Machynlleth County Primary school in 2014, to create the all  through four to 18 years old Ysgol Bro Hyddgen, assurances were made that the school would remain dual language.

Cllr Williams read out a paragraph from a letter he had received from a parent: “Parents absolutely support the dual stream provision at Ysgol Bro Hyddgen, it provides flexibility for parents and pupils and provides the opportunity for all children to succeed.”

“If Bro Hyddgen did become a Welsh medium school, I fear that all those pupils who change from Welsh to English in the secondary phase would have no option but choose a different secondary school.”

In the case of Machynlleth it would mean leaving for a school in neighbouring Ceredigion.

Cllr Williams added that if a number did leave, it could jeopardise the school’s future.

“Many urge you not to support the proposal,” said Cllr Williams.

He advised cabinet that they should, “take full account” of the views they receive in the consultation.

Council Leader, Cllr Rosemarie Harris, said: “It’s good to hear the views of a local member, this is about going out to consultation it’s not a decision today.”

Education portfolio holder, Cllr Phyl Davies, said: “I have fully taken note of the email correspondence and encourage people to take part in the consultation.”

Increasing the number of Welsh medium schools is a cornerstone of the Strategy for Improving Education in Powys.

Machynlleth and the surrounding Dyfi Valley is a strong Welsh speaking area, and figures show that out of a total of 477 pupils at Bro Hyddgen, 332 are educated in Welsh and 145 in English.

Improving the provision of Welsh language education in the county was one of the recommendations of Estyn after their critical inspection of the education service last year.

The consultation is expected to start in December.

A spokesperson for Powys Council said after the meeting: “In terms of the language proposal, the consultation details including the proposals and how people can take part in the consultation will be announced later this month.”

See this week’s Machynlleth & Llanidloes edition of the Cambrian News for more local reaction to the language proposals for Ysgol Bro Hyddgen.