A decision over controversial proposals to radically transform secondary education throughout Powys was due to be made by councillors today.

The proposals include merging schools and streamlining management, as well as closing sixth forms in the county.

Powys County Council’s ruling board was expected to approve the plans at a meeting in Llandrindod Wells today.

But the proposals are opposed by union leaders who fear heavy job losses.

Last week, the local authority said all 13 high school sites in Powys were expected to stay open after concerns that up to five could close.

After widespread opposition, council officers are now recommending that seven or eight will operate across 13 sites through mergers.

But it said teaching posts could be lost through retirement or voluntary redundancies.

It forms part of the council’s secondary education review which is being carried out to save money and deal with dwindling pupil numbers.

The proposals for post-16 education include stripping schools of their sixth forms and opening sixth form centres in partnership with the county’s further education college, Coleg Powys, which has four sites across the county.

There are also plans to reorganise pre-16 Welsh-medium education across three sites.

Councillor David Jones, board member for schools and inclusion, said: “We have spent a long time looking at the challenges facing both the schools and Coleg Powys now and into the future

“We have identified a number of proposals that we believe could form the basis of a thriving education and training sector in Powys.”