Ysgol Meidrim and Ysgol y fro in Carmarthenshire are unfortunately set to close at the end of this year, the 31st of December 2026, after 118 and 30 years respectively being ran, even with objections from families, governors and the local community. This is seen as a incredibly emotional and uncertain time for parents as due to the declining birth rates in the area, schools have been having a lot more strain, and unfortunately 4 other schools will be in the firing line.
Meidrim school is based in the village of Meidrim, halfway between St. Clears and Carmarthen.
A vast majority of councillors in the Carmarthenshire area have agreed to close these schools, having a grand total of 22 pupils for Ysgol Meidrim and 0 for Ysgol y fro over this past school term on a meeting happening yesterday, October 14th.
Jean Lewis, a councillor in the area campaigning to keep Ysgol Meidrim open said it would be “a loss that will leave a huge impact for generations to come” “The school put on a concert for elderly people” questioning how people could be attracted back to rural areas if schools shut. “Governors had put forward alternative options to secure the future of the school but hadn’t been given the chance to put them into practice. Once a school like this has closed there is no turning back the clock.”
A lot of councillors had to consider the schools long-term sustainability, but no other option gave a guarantee for these students to learn putting a deficit of £121,968 at the end of the year. Another unnamed governor said “Closure is irreversible. Collaboration is not.”,
Ysgol y Fro is a school based in Llangyndeyrn, but due to it losing all of it’s remaining pupils as of September, it physically couldn’t run anymore. There was 22 objections tied to it’s closure including a loss of people learning the Welsh Language within the local area, travel arrangements, and there being a much larger effect in the local community.
Alternate options have been considered about this, including changing this school to a “Church of Wales” school but concluded there would a lack of interest with the pupils there. The school had a deficit of £107,810 so there was a estimate of the school saving around £100,000 a year from the school’s closure.
There also are further proposals to close further primaries, including Ysgol Blaenau, Pontiets, Carway and Bancfosfelen at the end of 2027, however nothing is set in stone yet. Supporting these schools are encouraged over the next few months to ensure that they don’t close.
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