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 acknowledged the continued progress with the Post Inspection Action Plan and the joint school improvement plan, and the work under way to embed improvements. It asked for a further progress report in 12 months, with an interim update circulated to members in January 2027.
Decided: The committee accepted the report and work programme and expressed concern about the scale of the demographic challenge shown in the latest data. It recommended that the Llechen Lân board develop a detailed action plan with clear priorities, milestones and measures of success. The plan should focus on the workforce, extra care housing, financial sustainability, preventive services, new ways of delivering care, promoting self-care, and working with the Education Department to involve young people. It asked for a further update within 12 months, including the latest data on inward migration and deaths.
RESOLVED (a) That the response and correspondence received from the St David’s Diocese in relation to the Council’s proposals for Tenby Church in Wales Voluntary Controlled School be noted. (b) That the Director of Education be authorised to undertake general consultation on the following proposals: (i) Establishing a new 3-19 Community school - split site initially, but as part of future Sustainable Communities for Learning investment to rebuild / extend Greenhill site, or on a new site; (ii) to discontinue Tenby Church in Wales VC School; and (iii) to discontinue Ysgol Greenhill.
RESOLVED That the Notice of Motion be adopted and the following decisions of Council be rescinded: 12.12.2025 - That the Director of Education be authorised to commence statutory consultation on establishing a new 3-11 primary school on the Saundersfoot School Site that encompasses the catchment of Saundersfoot and the Catchment of Stepaside and Kilgetty: (a) To discontinue Saundersfoot School; and (b) To discontinue Stepaside school. 05.03.2026 - Council reaffirms its decision of the 12.12.2025 that the Director for Education be authorised to commence statutory consultation on establishing a new 3-11 primary school on the Saundersfoot School Site that encompasses the catchment of Saundersfoot and the Catchment of Stepaside and Kilgetty: (a) To discontinue Saundersfoot School; and (b) To discontinue Stepaside school.
RESOLVED That the Notice of Motion be referred to Cabinet.
Decided: The Committee agreed that future reports will show the number of schools in each building condition category. It asked for a future information report with two school case studies, and that it include an update on phosphate levels and sustainable drainage approvals (SAB). It also agreed that building contracts showing a spending variance of plus or minus 10% from target will be reported back to the Committee regularly, as needed.
Decided: The Committee agreed that information reports on licensed deficits (a school's approved plan to spend more than its budget) will be regularly highlighted to the Executive Board. It also agreed that the Committee will receive an update on the budget position in November 2026.
Decided: The Chair agreed to admit the matter as urgent business. No decision was recorded.
Decided: The Council unanimously agreed to work with partners who share its commitment to supporting children and young people with Additional Learning Needs. It asked the Leader to write to the First Minister and the Cabinet Secretary for education, urging that the full value of any SEND or ALN consequential funding from the UK Government go to Welsh local authorities. The letter is to highlight Blaenau Gwent's school and education financial pressures and ask for fair, transparent funding based on need. Copies are to go to the Members of the Senedd for Blaenau Gwent, the MP for Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney, all Council members, all schools in the borough and the Blaenau Gwent Schools Budget Forum.
Decided: The Committee approved adding Councillor Hannah Williams to the Education Performance Panel.
Decided: Members noted the findings of the CIPFA review and the relevant findings of Estyn's review of council support for school budgets. They noted the council's response and its work programme. They agreed that a review of the time-framed action plan be brought to the committee every three months. They agreed that the action plan be changed to address a financial management recommendation in the CIPFA review.
Decided: Members noted the content of the Welsh in Education Strategic Plan (WESP) action plan. They agreed to continue to support and promote the plan and the work of all key partners. They also agreed that a mapping exercise be carried out against the plan's outcomes to identify priority areas.
Decided: Members approved the committee's forward work programme and the combined forward work programme.
Decided: Cabinet noted the report and the work being done on school budgets.
Decided: Cabinet approved the next steps to review leisure facilities and the wider leisure offer, ahead of re-tendering the leisure contract by 1 July 2030. It approved an interim plan, known as Option C, to carry out essential safety and legal compliance work at all leisure centres, plus priority improvements across the estate, until the review ends. It noted that bringing all leisure buildings to good repair and to operational net zero is estimated to cost about £84.3m, with £41.7m of that for the five core hubs.
Decided: Cabinet agreed to start the statutory process, the formal legal process, to close the school from 31 August 2027. Pupils would move to their closest alternative school in Powys.
Decided: Cabinet received the consultation report on the proposal to change the school's language category. It approved publishing a statutory notice to make a regulated alteration, a formal change, so that the school teaches through Welsh. The change would be phased in year by year, starting with Reception in September 2028.
Decided: The Committee agreed that the Chairperson would write to the Cabinet Member with the Committee's comments and observations.
Decided: The Committee was content with the Adult Services report. It asked for further information on direct payments. For Prevention and Inclusion, it asked for updates on the regional VAWDASV framework, the Young Carers Covenant action plan, and information on Flying Start. It recommended rolling out Young Carers Champions in schools, training for governors on young carers, and increasing the core budget where possible.
Decided: The Committee noted the report. The Director of Education and Lifelong Learning will attend the September meeting to update members on actions taken after three internal audit reports that received an 'insufficient' opinion, meaning major improvement is needed.
Decided: The Committee adopted its work programme for 2026/27. It was concluded that the Chair and the Scrutiny Adviser would agree when to schedule the update on the safeguarding recommendations.