Ysgol Bro Hyddgen in Machynlleth could become the first all-age Welsh-language school in Powys if plans are rubber stamped next week.

Officers at Powys council have recommended that plans to turn the Machynlleth school into a Welsh-medium learning centre as opposed to the bilingual – or dual stream – education provided currently, are given the green light.

The council carried out a seven-week consultation during December 2020 and January 2021 and the findings of the consultation report will be considered by Cabinet on Wednesday, 18 May.

If given the go-ahead, Welsh-medium learning would be introduced on a phased basis, year-by-year, starting with Reception in September 2022.

If approved, the council will publish a statutory notice formally proposing the change.

It would then be required to consider another report to conclude the process.

Dr Caroline Turner, chief executive of Powys County Council, said: “We would like to thank all those who took part in the consultation exercise for this proposal. After considering all the consultation responses, the recommendation that will be put forward to Cabinet is to continue with the proposal by publishing the statutory notice formally proposing the change.

“In order to meet these aims and objectives within our Strategy for Transforming Education in Powys, we want to move Ysgol Bro Hyddgen along the language continuum. This would ensure that all pupils attending the school have the opportunity to become fully bilingual, fluent in both Welsh and English, therefore contributing to the Welsh Government’s aspiration to achieve a million Welsh speakers by 2050.

“We are developing a fantastic new community campus for Ysgol Bro Hyddgen and the Dyfi Valley community that will be a flagship development not only for the area but also for the county and Wales. Alongside this development we want to give every child the advantages that a bilingual education provides from the very beginning.”

If it goes ahead, the proposed change would start in September 2022. Additional support would be provided to pupils to improve their Welsh language skills including opportunities for immersion education which has proved very successful in other counties.

The council’s Learning and Skills Scrutiny Committee will be considering the proposal on Wednesday, 12 May.