MACHYNLLETH’S Ysgol Bro Hyddgen should abandon its English-language stream despite concerns from parents, Cymdeithas yr Iaith has said.

Disgruntled parents forced a U-turn from the school’s board of governors after the school initially tried to scrap the English-language stream at reception class level, although the governors have said they will ask Powys County Council to launch a consultation into the future of the English stream at the school.

While parents questioned how youngsters from a English-speaking home would cope and what support would be available for youngsters with additional learning needs, Toni Schiavone, the chair of Cymdeithas yr Iaith’s education group, said the society wanted the school to become a fully Welsh-medium school.

He said: “I’m hopeful that the school will become wholly Welsh-medium at the end of the day.

“After all, the council has just made a clear policy commitment, in its Welsh in Education Strategic Plan, to move the school up the linguistic continuum.

“These changes are vital if the Welsh Government is to reach its target of a million Welsh speakers – which has broad and strong support amongst the public and politicians.

“Schools and councils need to normalise Welsh-medium education and moving schools up the language continuum is an important part of that.

“Teaching through the medium of Welsh, especially from a young age, is key; and ensures that pupils are completely fluent both in Welsh and in English.”

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