Proposal to close two rural schools takes major step forward

A COUNCIL'S cabinet has unanimously voted in favour of considering the closure of two Welsh-medium primary schools, a decision one rural councillor described as “death by a thousand cuts”.

- Richard Evans

At a meeting at Conwy’s Coed Pella HQ, the cabinet voted in two separate votes in favour of starting the statutory processes of determining the potential closure of Ysgol Ysbyty Ifan in Betws y Coed and Ysgol Betws y Coed.

A report informed councillors that Ysgol Ysbyty Ifan had just 14 pupils, equating to a cost per pupil of £15,637 in 2025/26.

The school is currently led by a headteacher supported by one full-time teacher, one midday supervisor/teaching assistant, one cleaner, and one cook.

With capacity for 100 pupils, Ysgol Betws y Coed also has just 14 pupils. Ysgol Betws y Coed is currently part of the Capel Coed Elan Federation, which is a collaboration between three small rural schools in the Conwy valley: Ysgol Betws y Coed, Ysgol Capel Garmon, and Ysgol Dolwyddelan.

The school currently employs 2.62 full-time equivalent teaching staff, with 0.95 full-time equivalent support staff split across other federation schools.