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 was minded to grant conditional planning permission. It authorised the Development and Building Control Manager to issue the decision under delegated powers.
Decided: Cabinet approved £163,000 from general balances to fund the TRAC project from September 2026 to March 2027. It noted that the Education Service will look for other, sustainable funding for the period beyond 2026/27.
Decided: The committee recommended that Cabinet approve £163,000 from general balances to fund TRAC from September 2026 to March 2027. It also recommended that Cabinet note that the Education Service will actively seek alternative and sustainable funding for TRAC beyond 2026/27.
Decided: Application 1: licence revoked. Application 2: licence suspended for 7 days. Application 3: licence revoked. Application 4: written warning. Application 5: written warning. Application 6: deferred to the next meeting. Application 7: application for a licence refused. Application 8: application approved. Application 9: application refused.
Decided: The meeting decided to approve the appointment of school governors as set out in the agenda pack.
Decided: The committee was content with the Education Services report. For Children's Services, it recommended that officers give updates on progress of Home Office funding for children on remand in the Mid-Year Report. It was also content with the Children's Services report.
RESOLVED: a) That the final determinations within the Democracy and Boundary Commission Cymru (DBCC) Annual Report 2026/2027 be noted. RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL: b) That the status quo remains regarding the payment of senior and civic salaries. Note: The following Councillors declared a personal interest in the above Agenda Item as they are in receipt of a senior salary. As the interest was not considered prejudicial, they were able to speak and vote on the matter. • Councillor Gwennol Ellis – Chair of the Education and Skills Overview and Scrutiny Committee. • Councillor Harry Saville – Chair of the Democratic Services Committee. Note: Councillor Nigel Smith declared a personal interest in the above Agenda Item as his son is the Chair of the Economy and Place Overview and Scrutiny Committee. As the interest was not considered prejudicial, he was able to speak and vote on the matter.
Decided: The Committee agreed to recommend to Cabinet that the revised School Transport Policy, effective from 1 October 2026 for the 2027/28 academic year, be approved.
Decided: The Committee asked to see the White Ribbon action plan. It asked for a breakdown of staff by service area and seniority level, with outstanding training, and recommended that this be included in future reports. It asked that questions on education be sent to the Head of Education, and recommended inviting the Head of Education to future meetings.
Decided: The meeting approved the name of the new Welsh-medium school in Builth Wells, as set out in the agenda pack.
Decided: Council agreed the appointments, resignations and reappointments to school governing bodies listed in the report.
Decided: The Council unanimously agreed to accept the report as an update on progress in education services.
Decided: Members noted the unaudited Council accounts and the unaudited Shared Regulatory Services accounts and annual governance statement. They also agreed that a commentary note be added to explain the Council's reserves for schools, the Housing Revenue Account and capital grants.
Decided: The Committee noted the actions taken to support and inform the development of the Belonging Strategy. It resolved that a letter be written to all schools saying the Committee supports the Strategy, will encourage every school to adopt it, and will ask schools to include it in their development plans.
Decided: Two items were added to the committee's forward work programme, which is its list of future topics for scrutiny (review). They are a review of the appeals process in comprehensive schools, and a report on Estyn (the schools inspectorate for Wales) outcomes and what is needed to support equality in schools when resources are not available. Members also asked to receive copies of Estyn reports once they are made public.
Decided: Cabinet approved five nominations to fill local authority governor vacancies at primary schools. The nominees are Cllr Matthew Jones (Glais Primary), Mike Hedges (Glyncollen Primary), Kathryn Hurley (Mayals Primary), Faith McCready (Penllergaer Primary) and Gareth Ford (Whitestone Primary).
Decided: Cabinet agreed to publish a notice of its intention to move the land from General Fund to Education use for a new Ysgol Calon Lân building. It delegated to the Director of Place the task of considering any objections and reporting back to Cabinet.
Decided: Cabinet noted the planned temporary increase of 60 places at Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Glantaf for 2027/28. It authorised officers to take the action needed for the increased intakes. It noted the revenue and capital costs and the investment works needed. It noted that a further report on long-term growth of Welsh-medium education will come to Cabinet in autumn 2026.