POWYS County Council’s Cabinet will be asked to consider a proposal to begin the statutory process that could lead to the closure of Gladestry Church in Wales School from August 31, 2027.
At its meeting on July 14, Cabinet will consider a report recommending the start of a formal consultation on the proposal, with pupils transferring to their closest alternative schools in Powys should the closure ultimately be approved.
Gladestry School is currently the smallest school in Powys, with 31 pupils on roll and forecasts indicating pupil numbers could continue to decline in the coming years.
The proposal forms part of the council’s Transforming Education Strategy, which aims to improve learner entitlement and experience while ensuring education provision remains sustainable for the future.
If approved by Cabinet, the proposal would enter a statutory consultation period during which pupils, parents, staff, governors, residents and other stakeholders would have the opportunity to share their views before any further decisions are made.
Councillor James Gibson-Watt, Powys County Council’s Cabinet Member for a Learning Powys, said: “We recognise that schools are at the heart of their communities and that any proposal affecting a local school is significant and can be deeply concerning for pupils, families, staff and residents.
“However, we also have a responsibility to ensure that learners across Powys have access to the best possible educational opportunities in a sustainable way.
“Gladestry School currently has very low pupil numbers and projections indicate that these numbers are likely to fall further in the future.
“The recommendation before Cabinet is not a final decision to close the school. It is a recommendation to begin the statutory process so that we can formally consult with all those affected, listen carefully to their views and consider all the evidence before any decision is made.
“I would encourage everyone with an interest in the future of the school to take part in the consultation should Cabinet agree for the process to move forward.”
The council says the preferred option would help address low pupil numbers, reduce surplus school places, provide access to a wider range of educational and extracurricular opportunities and support the long-term sustainability of education provision in the area. The proposal would also enable pupils to continue accessing education within Powys.
Should Cabinet approve the recommendation, consultation is expected to begin in September 2026. Any final decision would only be taken following completion of the statutory consultation and notice processes set out in the Welsh Government’s School Organisation Code.
