Powys County Council is to push forward with plans to modernise secondary school education in the area with the closure of at least three schools.
Earlier this month MyNewtown reported how up to three schools in the county could be closed under council plans to save money and improve education.
The council has said its cabinet will meet next month to consider proposals and to carefully think through how the changes can be made.
Which schools and sixth forms will be affected is not known, although at least one high school in north Powys could be closed and sixth forms could be merged.
There has been speculation that the college campus at NPTC Group in Newtown could combine a sixth form facility with existing fourth education services.
Cabinet Member for Schools, Councillor Arwel Jones said: “Education services in Powys have seen significant and rapid improvements in recent times following a vote of confidence by Estyn who judged that the schools service in Powys no longer needed significant improvement.
“However, our secondary schools are now facing a critical period and need the council’s leadership to provide a viable network capable of delivering the best outcomes for our young learners now and in the future.
“We must transform our learning and training provision in the county to ensure all children and young people are supported to achieve their potential. Although many of our schools are highly regarded it’s clear that the quality of some of our school buildings is no longer suitable for education in the twenty first century.
“Our ambition is to be the leading education authority in Wales. Our vision for twenty first century education is to provide modern learning environments, where our young people can take advantage of the latest technology and have access to a broad curriculum.
“Currently we have too few children spread across a number of schools which affects the range of the curriculum that can be offered on any one site. This is not the best use of resources and risks putting our young people at an educational disadvantage when schools in other counties are able to provide a wider selection of courses in better facilities.”
He added: “Our school buildings must be fit for purpose, meet pupils’ needs and be resources which the whole community can use. We must ensure our young people are able to compete with other parts of the UK and have access to the best educational start in life.
“It is also in everyone’s interest that the council’s focus is on driving up the attainment and ambition of the majority of its pupils with a special emphasis on those from more disadvantaged backgrounds.
“We must achieve this in the context of significant financial pressures brought about by falling school rolls and poor budget settlements.
“We know that many schools have already taken difficult decisions in the face of these pressures, but much more is needed, the current secondary structure is no longer viable.
“Without action 75% of schools will be in deficit by 2017 to the sum of £5million. The scale of the problem has the potential to undermine the stability of secondary education in Powys and compromise the council’s entire budget.
“It will be our young learners and other vulnerable service users that will lose out if we do not take action now.
“On March 24 the cabinet will be asked to accept the key principles that will drive the process, the overall goals we set ourselves as an education authority now and for the future.
“Cabinet will also be asked to prioritise the roll-out of the Secondary Reorganisation Programme by agreeing areas for immediate action and areas where further detailed business cases are required.
“While urgent and decisive action is needed, it will not be rushed and the communities affected by any proposals will have a clear opportunity to take part and express their opinions through an open consultation and engagement process,” he said.
