Councillors have agreed to consider setting up at least one Welsh-medium secondary school in Montgomeryshire.
The council’s Cabinet was today considering a report into changes in secondary education in north Powys which could affect Newtown, Llanidloes and Llanfair Caereinion high schools, as well as Welshpool, Llanfyllin and Machynlleth.
Today, they noted the contents of a report put forward by consultants looking into secondary Welsh-medium education which included the establishment of a category 2a school or schools.
These are schools where 80 per cent of lessons are taught in the Welsh language.
The cabinet today noted the report and agreed to determine whether “it is desirable to establish a bi-lingual, category 2a school or schools in north Powys.”
They have requested a business case to be produced to look into the matter.
The council could nominate a school or schools in north Powys to become bilingual category 2a school.
This would mean children not wanting or able to be taught through the Welsh-medium would have to be transported to secondary schools that taught through the medium of English.
Meanwhile, work continues on the Welsh-medium primary school being built in Newtown.
The primary school, being built on land next to the town's high school, is due to be opened next year.