£8m super school plan to replace five primaries in Welshpool
Five primary schools could be replaced by an £8 million super school as part of a review which could "revolutionise" education in the area.
The super school plan for Welshpool is one of several options being considered by officials at Powys County Council. Other ideas include creating separate schools for Welsh and English education.
The idea of setting up a super school has been hailed as a "once in a lifetime opportunity" by Councillor Phil Pritchard, who is county councillor for Welshpool and a governor at Ysgol Maesydre in the town.
Powys County Council's review of primary schools in the Welshpool area is part of a shake-up of education across the county. It will look at the future of Ysgol Maesydre, Gungrog Church in Wales School, Ardwyn Infants School, Oldford Infants School and nearby Leighton Primary School.
The Welsh Assembly has provided £8 million of funding to the county council to spend on education.
Councillor Pritchard said the standard of buildings at the town's schools was not good and that the grant funding could be used to leave a "huge legacy".
He said: "I am working closely with this review of schools and this is a chance for us to improve education in the Welshpool area for generations.
"The standard of teaching in the town is excellent, the teachers do an superb job, but I know the standard of buildings does not always match that.
"I know for example that at Maesydre, the fabric of the building is not good.
"As a county council we now have the chance of spending £8 million grant money from the Welsh Assembly.
"If we sit on our hands and do nothing, the money will disappear by 2017, so we need to take this chance to revolutionise education in Welshpool for future generations. It would be a huge legacy to leave."
It is thought the Welsh language pupils could be taught in a refurbished version of an existing primary school.
Councillor Arwel Jones, cabinet member for education, said:
"Our aim is to complete a strategic outline case – a document that is submitted to Welsh Government inviting in principle support for our plans – by April 2015.
"If those strategic plans are successful the council would produce a detailed business case for funding allocation."
