News

Welsh-medium primary school could expand as demand for places grows

14 Sep 2026 2 minute read

Nation.Cymru staff

A primary school could be expanded to create 60 additional places in response to growing demand for Welsh-medium education.

Powys County Council is considering plans to increase the capacity of Ysgol Gymraeg Y Trallwng in Welshpool from 150 to 210 pupils by building a two-classroom extension.

Cabinet members will be asked on Tuesday, September 22, to approve the start of a statutory consultation on the proposal.

The school, which is the only Welsh-medium primary serving the Welshpool catchment area, currently has 146 pupils and the council expects demand for places to continue to rise.

Ysgol Gymraeg Y Trallwng opened in 2018 before moving into a new purpose-built building in 2023.

An options appraisal carried out by the council identified extending the school as its preferred solution for meeting demand for Welsh-medium education in the area.

The project has also received approval in principle for Welsh Government Welsh-medium capital funding, which could cover the full cost of the extension subject to approval of a business case.

Cllr James Gibson-Watt, Powys Council’s cabinet member for a Learning Powys, said: “Ysgol Gymraeg Y Trallwng has been a tremendous success story since it opened, with increasing numbers of families choosing Welsh-medium education for their children.

“As the only Welsh-medium primary school serving the Welshpool area, it is important that we continue to provide local access to Welsh-medium education and respond to growing demand from parents and pupils.

“The proposed extension would allow more children to benefit from the opportunities that Welsh-medium education provides, support the growth of Welsh language provision in north Powys and help us deliver our ambitions for a bilingual Powys.

“I would encourage anyone with an interest in the future of Welsh-medium education in the Welshpool area to take part in the consultation process should Cabinet agree to move forward with the proposal.”

If cabinet gives the go-ahead, a formal consultation will be held with pupils, parents, staff, governors, local communities and other interested parties before any final decision is taken.

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