Schools, school places and buildings, additional learning needs and Welsh-medium education.
What councils do
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.
Who decides
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.
Having a say
Proposals to change a school must be consulted on, and anyone can respond. Parents can also become school governors.
In numbers
Welsh councils plan to spend £1,307 per person on this in 2026-27.
It ranges from £1,099 in Monmouthshire to £1,475 in Merthyr Tydfil.
Year 1 pupils taught in Welsh: 25% across Wales (2025-26).
Decided: Council adopted Cabinet's recommendation to go ahead with the proposal to discontinue (close) Ysgol y Fro as set out in the statutory notice. The school is to close on 31 December 2026, with pupils moving to Ysgol y Dderwen from 1 January 2027.
Decided: Council adopted Cabinet's recommendation to go ahead with the proposal to discontinue (close) Ysgol Meidrim as set out in the statutory notice. Pupils are to transfer to Ysgol Hafodwenog or Ysgol Griffith Jones from January 2027.
Education, Young People and the Welsh Language Scrutiny Committee,
Decided: The Committee unanimously resolved to recommend that Cabinet proceed with formal consultation on Ysgol Blaenau. This is a recommendation to Cabinet, not a decision to close the school.
Education, Young People and the Welsh Language Scrutiny Committee,
Decided: The Committee resolved to recommend that Cabinet proceed with formal consultation on Ysgol Pontiets. This is a recommendation, not a decision to close the school.
Education, Young People and the Welsh Language Scrutiny Committee,
Decided: The Committee resolved to recommend that Cabinet proceed with formal consultation on Ysgol Carwe. This is a recommendation, not a decision to close the school.
Education, Young People and the Welsh Language Scrutiny Committee,
Decided: The Committee resolved that a revised consultation document go to a special meeting of the Committee before it goes to Cabinet on 2 November. It also resolved that it was minded to recommend that Cabinet proceed with formal consultation, subject to the changes being agreed at that special meeting.
Decided: Cabinet unanimously resolved to recommend to Full Council that it goes ahead with the proposal to discontinue Ysgol y Fro, as set out in the statutory notice. Under the notice, the school would close on 31 December 2026 and pupils would move to Ysgol y Dderwen from 1 January 2027. Full Council makes the final decision.
Decided: Cabinet unanimously resolved to recommend to Full Council that it goes ahead with the proposal to discontinue Ysgol Meidrim, as set out in the statutory notice. Under the notice, the school would close on 31 December 2026 and pupils would move to Ysgol Hafodwenog or Ysgol Griffith Jones from January 2027. Full Council makes the final decision.