Primary school will close after council agrees to controversial merger
A plea not to merge two primary schools fell on deaf ears as senior councillors decide to push ahead with the controversial plan.
At a meeting of Powys County Council's Cabinet today, a report went before the Liberal Democrat/Labour cabinet which starts the legal process of merging Treowen Primary School and Ysgol Calon y Dderwen in Newtown.
Education officers recommended closing Treowen from August 31, 2025, and “extending” Ysgol Calon y Dderwen to include Treowen from September 1, 2025.
The second phase of the process would see a bigger school built at the Calon y Dderwen site during 2026/2027 – subject to receiving the necessary funding from the Welsh Government.
The proposal had been the focus of a consultation from January 15 to February 26.
The council report did not state the exact number of objections raised against the proposal, but did detail a number of concerns and criticism of the proposal, with few comments in favour.
At the meeting, the council’s anti-poverty champion and Newtown East county councillor Joy Jones spoke against the proposal.
She said: “This proposal goes completely against what the community wants and needs, the school is the centre of the community.
“It has given a good standard of education which has led to many young people getting a great start in life.
“Please consider the consequences as it will have a devastating effect on the Treowen estate, parents and pupils and the community.
“Everyone is extremely frustrated as they feel the consultation was a waste of time.
“I can honestly say apart from (council) officers and portfolio holder I haven’t heard anyone in the community support this proposal.
“Show the public that you’re truly listening and care about their needs.”
Councillor Jones pointed out that planning permission has been given for “a huge amount of extra housing” near Treowen.
"If these are built in the future there will be more need than ever for the school,” said Councillor Jones.
Cabinet member for future generations, Labour’s Councillor Sandra Davies has seen first-hand the school transformation in the Ystradgynlais area.
This saw several small schools closed and bigger primary schools established.
She invited Councillor Jones to visit Ystradgynlais and talk to parents of children at these schools.
Councillor Davies said: “It is traumatic and has an effect on everyone in the school community – but having gone through that process in the Ystradgynlais catchment area I can assure you that it has good results.
“All the pupils and staff are thriving, and the parents are happy.”
Cabinet member for a safer Powys, Liberal Democrat Councillor Richard Church “drew attention” to the falling pupil numbers at Treowen primary.
The school is predicted to have 87 pupils by January 2027, dropping from the current 108.
In January 2016 the school had 132 pupils.
Councillor Church said: “This demonstrates the massive demographic change that is happening in Powys.
“We tend to associate declining school numbers with rural areas but it’s happening in our towns as well and you can see it very clearly in these figures.
“The figures show Treowen declining in size by nearly 50 per cent.
“We have to remodel our schools to reflect this huge demographic change happening in our county.”
Cabinet went on to unanimously agree starting the legal process of merging the schools.
