Questions at Any Time to Cabinet Portfolio Holders

The meeting was a session of questions to Cabinet members. Councillor Bev Baynham asked Councillor James Gibson-Watt, Cabinet Member for a Learning Powys, for pupil numbers in the John Beddoes area and across Powys. He gave the figures. The minute records no decision.

1. Primary school pupil numbers in the John Beddoes area

   Decided

   The minutes record no decision on this item.

   Why

   Councillor Bev Baynham asked after the catchment review (a review of which schools serve which areas) for the John Beddoes area, which proposed closing Gladestry Primary School. She said she was worried that pupils would move to English schools over the border, and asked why so many primary pupils do not go on to a Powys high school. Councillor James Gibson-Watt replied that on 1 September 2026 the rolls were Presteigne 169, Knighton 165, New Radnor (Radnor Valley CP School) 54, Gladestry 23 and the John Beddoes campus of Newtown High School 210. Year 6 numbers on 1 January 2026 were 34, 25, 5 and 4 in those four primary schools in that order. He said 27 of 60 pupils (45%) from Presteigne catchment primary schools moved to the John Beddoes campus in Year 7 in September 2026. Home education figures are not kept by catchment area, but 413 pupils are home educated across Powys. Across the county there were 1,269 pupils in Year 6 on 1 January 2026 and 1,229 in Year 7 on 1 September 2026.

   Based on the minutes

Written by AI from the council's minutes and reports. Sentences with a number or name that can't be found in those papers are removed automatically, but mistakes are still possible. Councils publish no word-for-word record of meetings, so this says what was decided and why. Read the official papers to be sure.

1. 1

   Question from: County Councillor Bev Baynham Subject: Primary education pupil numbers

   Minute

   Response by the Cabinet Member: 1. As of 1st September 2026 how many pupils are on roll for, · Presteigne Primary School - 169 · Knighton Primary School - 165 · New Radnor Primary School (Radnor Valley CP School) - 54 · Gladestry Primary School - 23 • As of 1st September 2026 how many pupils are on roll for John Beddoes School (Newtown High School - John Beddoes Campus) - 210 • As of 1st January 2026 how many pupils were in Year 6 for, · Presteigne Primary School - 34 · Knighton Primary School - 25 · New Radnor Primary School (Radnor Valley CP School) - 5 · Gladestry Primary School - 4 4. As of 1st September 2026 both as a figure and a percentage what number of pupils transferred to Year 7 in John Beddoes - 45% (27 pupils out of 60 total) transferred from Y6 at Presteigne Catchment primary schools to Y7 at the John Beddoes campus of Newtown High School in September 2026. 5. As of 1st September 2026 how many pupils are being home educated in the John Beddoes catchment area - Currently not available/EHE not currently categorised as belonging to a catchment area. 6. As of 1st September 2026 how many pupils are being home educated throughout the County of Powys - 413 7. As of 1st January 2026 how many pupils on roll in Year 6 throughout the County of Powys - 1,269 8. As of 1st September 2026 how many pupils on roll in Year 7 throughout the County of Powys - 1,229

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