‘No decision made to close any sixth forms’

By Elgan Hearn, Local Democracy Reporter

No decisions have been made to close any sixth forms in Powys, senior Liberal Democrat councillors have stressed.

Instead, the thorny issue of post-16 education in Powys, which now includes education from the age of 14 upwards, has been kicked into touch as a problem for a new administration to deal with after next year’s local elections.

At a meeting of Powys County Council’s Cabinet this week, members of the Liberal Democrat and Labour cabinet were given an update on the review of post-16 education.

This sees a change of emphasis following discussions with schools, parents, and other interested parties.

From October 1 to November 30, Powys Council held an “engagement” exercise and asked people for views on post-16 education. This consultation received 3,739 responses.

Last year, it was revealed that a radical shake-up of post-16 education in Powys, which could see all sixth forms in their schools axed, was being considered. This is because Powys pupils are not performing as well as expected at A-Level.

The preferred option, which has now been put on the back burner, would see a sixth form college set up with one board of governors and management team across two sites in Brecon and Newtown.

This idea went down like a lead balloon and saw a “Save Our Sixth Form” campaign start at Crickhowell High School, while Ysgol Llanfyllin, Ysgol Bro Caereinion in Llanfair Caereinion, and Welshpool High School in the north of the county say they will work together on a shared sixth form model.

Education Portfolio Holder Cllr James Gibson-Watt (Liberal Democrat – Glasbury) said: “This is a kind of stock take of where we have got to in what is a phased approach.

“This is an issue that has been rumbling in the background for a good 20 years, and it has fallen to this administration to address the issues that should have been dealt with many years ago.

“There is no question about the need for reform; the question is what form that will take.”

He explained the key findings “indicate” what pupils, who need to be at the “centre of this process,” want to see.

Cllr Gibson-Watt said: “Above all else, they want to see a broader-based, high-quality curriculum, and that might not be a surprise.”

He added that this feedback was coming from pupils, not from councillors or education officers.

Cllr Gibson-Watt continued: “They also have significant objections to having to move from one (school) setting to another during the day, and they do love the nature of local provision in many respects.”

He added that while changes may take place in the future, the current model needs to be strengthened “to arrest the decline” of results in the county.

This will see further education colleges work with groups of secondary schools to provide more vocational courses as part of the subjects on offer to pupils.

Cabinet member for Highways, Transport, and Recycling, Cllr Jackie Charlton (Liberal Democrat – Llangattock and Llangynidr) said that she had received lots of correspondence on this issue from locals.

Cllr Charlton said: “What we are delivering here is really important to them; we are listening and have taken notice of a lot of the things that have been said. I want to assure them that no decisions have been made.”

Council leader Cllr Jake Berriman (Liberal Democrat – Llandrindod North) said: “The paper has changed the tone of discussion, and the number of responses is really impressive.

“Whatever works and is best for our young people is the right solution,” he said.

Cabinet then moved to a vote and unanimously agreed that: “the review should now focus on whole‑system reform that integrates schools, further education, and training providers, with sector‑aligned pathways into higher education and employment, with parity for academic and vocational routes.”

Councillors also approved the updated roadmap and continued “engagement” with interested parties to develop a future model. The council will work to the following timetable.

April 2026 to March 2027: more engagement and work continues on the three workstreams.

April to May 2027: a further update to cabinet on the potential future models.

The local elections take place in May 2027 – which could totally change the situation and the timetable.

Potentially in July 2027: – a new cabinet to receive a report to provide further update on the review and potential future models.

Autumn 2027: informal engagement to allow feedback on long-term model.

Spring 2028: formal proposal to be considered by cabinet if required.

September 2029 to September 2031: implementation.