ANOTHER four schools with low pupil numbers in Carmarthenshire face major uncertainty as plans are unveiled recommending their closure.
Councillors on a scrutiny committee will hear more about the options for Ysgol Blaenau, Ysgol Pontiets, Ysgol Carwe and Ysgol Bancffosfelen at meeting next week.
The council is recommending closure of all four with a formal consultation on their future to kickstart the process.
Carmarthenshire has a lot of small schools with dwindling pupil numbers which are operating in deficit and the Plaid-Independent-led council closed one in August and plans to shut another two at the end of December.
Budget deficits at Ysgol Blaenau, Blaenau; Ysgol Pontiets, Pontyates; Ysgol Carwe, Carway; and Ysgol Bancffosfelen, Bancffosfelen, are forecasted to rise to £362,556, £80,469, £23,243 and £107,773 respectively by the end of 2026-27.
A report before the education, young people and Welsh language scrutiny committee, which meets on October 13, said the education landscape was changing in Wales as birth rates fell and building maintenance costs and recruitment pressures rose.
“This is particularly acute in the primary sector at the present time and in January 2026 there were more than 1,000 fewer statutory aged primary learners in Carmarthenshire than in 2021,” it said.
“Every school is required to have a formally calculated pupil capacity and in January 2026, there were more than 3,500 surplus pupil spaces across the county’s 94 primary schools.”
There were 22 schools in the county with 50 or fewer pupils in January this year compared to 18 two years previously.
“Fewer pupils in schools, with increased surplus capacity has reduced the financial viability of many more schools,” added the report.
“Financial pressures in schools can have a significant impact on their ability to deliver high quality education for children.”
Committee members will consider lengthy reports on the latest four schools facing potential closure ahead of a cabinet meeting on November 2 when a decision recommending formal consultations on all four is on the agenda. So-called shaping discussions have already taken place with the four in question.
According to the report Ysgol Blaenau has 26 pupils, Ysgol Pontiets 21 pupils, Ysgol Carwe 58 pupils and Ysgol Bancffosfelen 48 pupils. Ysgol Carwe has also had major building issues with pupils having to relocate Ysgol Gwynfryn, Pontyates.
The report recommends shutting all four at the end of December 2027 but there will be opportunities for parents, pupils, staff, governors and the wider community to share their views before any final decisions are taken.
