Following Sian James’s comments on Golwg 360, here are Dyfodol’s Chair, Heini Gruffudd’s comments on Welsh education within Powys:

Powys has a bad record when it comes to developing Welsh secondary education. The County has consistently refused to face the need for educational continuation in relation to Welsh primary schools. In south Powys, a number of children go to other counties, to Ystalyfera and Rhydywaun to get Welsh medium education, as Brecon has failed to provide sufficient provision.

In north Powys, on the other hand, Ysgol Llanfaircaereinion has developed a successful Welsh stream. The County needs to acknowledge this and accept that full Welsh education is available in Llanfaircaereinion. In the south of the County, Builth Wells and Brecon schools need to cooperate to provide Welsh education, but Welsh streams within English schools are a second-rate choice.

It must be said that the County’s dispersed population can be problematic, but it’s about time the County acknowledges the strengths of some of its secondary schools and develops further on this basis.