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Welsh councils this month made decisions on school closures and openings, special school space, and school repairs, while budgets and additional learning needs (ALN) funding remained pressure points. Carmarthenshire, Powys, Merthyr Tydfil and Swansea took some of the main decisions.[7][8][4][2][5]
Written in November 2026 from council records since 20 September 2026, open consultations and official sources. Written automatically, then checked: every point names its sources and every figure appears in them. Follow the links to check anything before relying on it.
Councils run community schools, fund every state school, provide school transport and support pupils with additional learning needs. They plan school places, including Welsh-medium places under a ten-year plan.
The Cabinet decides on school changes, such as opening, closing or merging schools, after a formal consultation. Head teachers and governing bodies run each school day to day.
Proposals to change a school must be consulted on, and anyone can respond. Parents can also become school governors.
| Council | Items | With a decision |
|---|---|---|
| Powys | 102 | 75 |
| Carmarthenshire | 93 | 74 |
| Pembrokeshire | 67 | 60 |
| Swansea | 64 | 41 |
| Flintshire | 63 | 48 |
| Cardiff | 53 | 50 |
| Caerphilly | 53 | 0 |
| Rhondda Cynon Taf | 52 | 46 |
| Monmouthshire | 48 | 12 |
| Ceredigion | 44 | 38 |
| Gwynedd | 43 | 38 |
| Newport | 43 | 22 |
| Vale of Glamorgan | 42 | 28 |
| Conwy | 40 | 36 |
| Neath Port Talbot | 39 | 28 |
| Wrexham | 36 | 32 |
| Merthyr Tydfil | 29 | 24 |
| Blaenau Gwent | 27 | 25 |
| Denbighshire | 22 | 17 |
| Bridgend | 18 | 0 |
| Torfaen | 10 | 7 |
Decided: The Committee unanimously agreed to note the explanation for the non-submission.
Decided: The Committee unanimously agreed to receive the report.
Decided: The Committee unanimously recommended that Cabinet proceed with formal consultation on Ysgol Blaenau. The Committee does not make the final decision; Cabinet does.
Decided: The Committee recommended that Cabinet proceed with formal consultation on Ysgol Pontiets.
Decided: The Committee recommended that Cabinet proceed with formal consultation on Ysgol Carwe. Councillor H. Jones, who had declared an interest, was not present for the vote.
Decided: The Committee agreed in principle to support the proposal going to consultation, but only once the identified inaccuracies, ambiguities and inconsistencies are corrected. It asked for a revised consultation document to go to a special Committee meeting before Cabinet considers it on 2 November 2026.
Decided: The minute records no vote. It records the Chair's suggestion that the school balances graph in section 6.3 be updated before the report goes to Cabinet, as it shows a £7.1m deficit rather than the £9.337m forecast discussed.
Decided: The committee noted the findings of Audit Wales's follow-up letter and the Council's management response and action plan. It referred the report to Cabinet to oversee and endorse the proposed actions. It also sent the report to the Start Well Task and Finish Group examining school budgets, with any analysis of the impact of specific interventions with schools.
RESOLVED: a) That Councillor Harry Saville be permitted to speak with officers and write to officers and/ or the Council regarding licensing and home to school transport matters, except on any matters concerning any license or review related to Phoenix Transport Ltd. for a period of 12 months. b) That Councilor Harry Saville be allowed to speak and take part in debates and answer questions in the General or Statutory Licensing Committee, Overview and Scrutiny Committees, Cabinet and Council relating to home to school transport or taxi provision, including policy discussions (but should leave the room before any vote is taken), except on any matters concerning any license or review related to Phoenix Transport Ltd. for a period of 12 months. c) That the dispensation be granted under paragraphs 2 (d) and (f) (and paragraph 2 (g) in respect of Overview and Scrutiny Committees) of the Standards Committee (Grant of Dispensations) (Wales) Regulations. Note: Councillor Harry Saville declared a personal interest in the above agenda item as it was his application, however, the Committee had invited Councillor Saville to explain the reasons for the application.
Decided: The Council approved the recruitment process for the Director of Corporate Services, including the job description, person specification and advert. The salary range for the post is £116,572 to £124,881. The Council also approved a change in the pay package for the Director of Education.
Decided: Full Council, meaning all councillors together, must decide all future school closure proposals once the statutory consultation and objection processes are complete. The Cabinet, the councillors who make most day-to-day decisions, may still start consultations and publish statutory notices. The Constitution will be amended to reflect this change. The motion was carried by 33 votes to 23, with 2 abstentions.
Decided: The Council resolved to call on Welsh Government to pass on in full to local authorities the extra funding for Additional Learning Needs education. The motion was carried by 49 votes to 1, with 2 abstentions.
Decided: The Committee recommended, as a priority, that the Executive Member for Education keep lobbying Welsh Government to protect and strengthen ALN funding. It also recommended that the Council review and improve the ALN information on its website, including guidance on the Individual Development Plan (IDP), the written plan for each pupil's support. Members asked for an all-member seminar in the new year.