Welshpool school expansion approved to meet rising Welsh-medium demand

Powys County Council has approved plans to expand Ysgol Gymraeg y Trallwng, a Welsh-medium primary school in Welshpool, to meet rising demand for Welsh-language education. The expansion will increase the school's capacity from 150 to 210 pupils through the construction of two new classrooms.

The Welsh Government has agreed in principle to fully fund the project via a capital grant, subject to the submission of a business case. Enrollment has seen significant growth, rising from 73 pupils in January 2019 to 126 in January 2026, with projections suggesting numbers could reach 178 by 2031.

While the growth is viewed as a success, officials noted that over 90% of students come from English-speaking families and some travel from across the border in England. The expansion has also prompted calls for traffic improvements, as the increased number of pupils arriving by car has raised safety concerns regarding school access and congestion.