Anxiety mounts for three schools over closure plans

to dual-stream or English-speaking schools if Ysgol Y Fro closed.

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Young protesters worried about the future of Ysgol Llansteffan on the steps of County Hall, Carmarthen.

Cllr James also said closing the school in the middle of the academic year in December 2026 would be detrimental for pupils.

Council chiefs have long worried about dwindling pupil numbers, deficit spending and a shortage of headteachers in many county schools, particularly smaller ones, and believe pupils would have more opportunities at larger ones.

Cllr James acknowledged the financial situation but felt small rural schools would pay the price to keep urban schools operating. “We have to be certain that everything else has been considered,’ she said.

Cllr Lewis urged cabinet not to proceed with the formal consultation for Ysgol Meidrim as she said the discussions so far had been “subject to misunderstandings and a lack of communication” She said governors have come up with options to make the school more sustainable and that the expected savings of the closure proposal were only just over £13,000 per year because transport costs would be higher than they are currently.

“Are you genuinely convinced that this saving is enough to justify closure of this school?” asked Cllr Lewis.