Powys MP hits out at council's sixth form closure proposal
A Powys MP has hit out at the proposal to close all the English language sixth forms in the county and replace them with two sites.
Montgomeryshire and Glyndwr MP Steve Witherden criticised the proposals being considered by Powys County Council for major reform of over 16 education in the county and said 'I will not stand for it'.
The proposal was one of three options revealed today (April 29), and would see all the English medium sixth forms around Powys being closed and relocated to two sites in Newtown and Brecon while three Welsh medium sites would be retained.
Mr Witherden, who worked as a teacher before being elected MP in 2024, said the proposals would constitute 'downgrading public services' and said the plans would not work in county the size of Powys.
'Powys County Council continue with their mission of downgrading public services,' said Mr Witherden.
'Today they announce proposals to replace every English-medium sixth form in the county with just two sites. The Montgomeryshire site will be in Newtown.
'I am supportive of boosting Welsh-medium learning, but I do not think that making English-speaking students travel further for post-16 education is fair.
'I would not be surprised if many more pupils in the north of the county choose to go across the border instead. Powys is just too big for this to work; the sixth forms should be kept open.'
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Mr Witherden said that the plans were a result of long-term austerity brought in by the previous government and said he would be campaigning to have this reversed.
'Since my election I have repeatedly stood against the local consequences of austerity. I have done so on primary school closures, such as Ysgol Bro Cynllaith and Ysgol Treowen,' added Mr Witherden.
'I have done so on healthcare, with the downgrading of Llanidloes Hospital, deliberate increase of waiting times for cross-border treatment, or the planned closure of our air ambulance base.
'I did so just last week on tenant farmers, who are facing eviction due to ever deeper cost-cutting measures.
'We have been dealt blow after blow over the past few months. You can criticise the council for the management of its budget, but ultimately, we are feeling the sharp end of austerity because local authorities across the UK have had their real terms funding cut massively over the last decade and a half.
'Meanwhile, the gap between the very richest and everybody else continues to widen. But it is our services that get cut. Our operations that get delayed. Our schools that get shuttered. I will not stand for it.'
Elwyn Vaughan who is group leader of Plaid Cymru in Powys County Council and is a governor at Ysgol Bro Hyddgen said 'doing nothing was not an option'.
"Since 2011 Estyn school inspectors have criticised Powys for the lack of progress in sorting out the Sixth Form provision in Powys,' said Cllr Vaughan.
'This has been stated again only recently. Hence doing nothing is not a option.
'We're all well aware of the numbers of young people that travel out of County to access their 16+ education, it is essential therefore that full consideration is given what option is best to alleviate such pressures and is accessible for most.
'What we don't want to see is further weakening of provision and a further brain drain. It makes sense to base the Welsh medium provision around Llanfair and Hyddgen so that they work together to maximise provision.
'It will be essential to take the voice of our young people as a integral part of any consultation on future structures and provision."
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