A ROW has erupted after a meeting was held in private between councillors and the headteacher and governors at Ysgol Bro Hyddgen in Machynlleth to discuss concerns over the school.

It was agreed at a meeting of Machynlleth Town Council in March that a public meeting should be held where parents, councillors and residents could ask questions of the school leadership and Powys council following claims of an exodus of pupils over teaching issues and a push towards Welsh-medium education.

Responding to a letter from head Dafydd Jones, town councillors agreed not to “generate anymore bad publicity” until they had met with Mr Jones following his invitation to all councillors.

But after requesting permission to attend the meeting, which took place last week, the Cambrian News was told the meeting was not open to the public or the press.

And Cllr Gareth Jones decided not to go to the meeting, stating that such meetings involving councillors should be reserved for “very, very exceptional circumstances”.

After the meeting, Allan Wynne Jones, the chair of governors, said: “The meeting was an excellent opportunity to emphasise our successes as a school despite punishing reductions in funding.

“We have strengths throughout the school, both primary and secondary, particularly in music, sports, information technology, green policies and community links. The sixth form is flourishing and we succeed in educating well rounded, creative, conscientious citizens.”

Machynlleth mayor Tony Jones said: “We are all passionate about the future of Ysgol Bro Hyddgen and it is important that we all work together for the benefit of the pupils of Machynlleth and the surrounding communities.

"We are all aware that Ysgol Bro Hyddgen faces some significant challenges in the future and we look forward to participating in an ongoing dialogue with the school and its governors.”

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