CEREDIGION County Council is hoping to win Welsh Government funding to pay for half of the £800,000 cost of providing extensions at Llanilar and Comins Coch schools, with the authority’s capital budget providing the other half.

A council report has identified problems with spaces for pupils in both schools, with pupils in Llanilar having to be taught in the school hall because pupil numbers are over capacity, and Comins Coch youngsters being taught in a staff room because of a lack of classroom space.

A strategic outline programme request that has gone to the Welsh Government says that pupil numbers at Llanilar school are already over capacity and pupil numbers at Comins Coch are projected to rise above capacity by 2021.

It says that there are currently 119 pupils at Llanilar with the capacity at 113. In Comins Coch, pupil numbers are currently at 176, but are projected to rise to 195 by 2021 with a capacity at the school of 185.

The programme request also highlights that Comins Coch does not currently meet Welsh Government guidelines on the number of toilets for pupils under five. However, Matthew Brown, the head of learning services, told council Cabinet members that the extensions are not needed to increase capacity but to address the issues around school space.

He said: “We need the extensions, not to increase the capacity, but to improve their situations.”

Council leader Ellen ap Gwynn said she backed the extension plan, which will now go out to tender before the Welsh Government makes a decision on providing funding.

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