MACHYNLLETH’S Ysgol Bro Hyddgen has come under fire after saying the decision to axe the English-­language stream at reception level had been made by governors to give children “equal opportunity to the advantages of bilingual education”.­

The school had told the Cambrian News that the English-language stream at reception level had been looked at because of low numbers, but that appeared to be contradicted in a letter to parents sent out on 8 May.

That letter insisted the decision not to implement an English-language stream had been taken by governors, and while headteacher Dafydd Jones had told the Cambrian News that there would be consultation with parents, the letter suggested that a final decision had already been taken.

The letter, sent by assistant headteacher Haf ap Robert, says: “It is the governors’ decision to ensure the children of Machynlleth have equal opportunity to the advantages of bilingual education. This means that from September 2018 every child in the reception year will be taught through the medium of Welsh.

“There will be one reception class, taught by one teacher and supported by two teaching assistants.

“The staff are experienced and I can assure you that they will do their best, with the support of the school and the education authority, to meet the educational, language and emotional needs of your child.”

That has prompted criticism from a former town councillor and mayor of Machynlleth who questioned whether the decision was being taken in an attempt to abandon an English-language stream altogether without any consultation with parents and residents.

Gareth Jones said the letter from the school was not an attempt to consult with parents and also questioned whether parents would even have been told about the decision to abandon the English-language stream if concerns had not been raised with the Cambrian News.

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