Public Notices

CARMARTHENSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL, County Hall, Castle Hill, Carmarthen, SA31 1JP

Notice is hereby given in accordance with Section 43 of the School Standards and Organisation Act 2013 and the School Organisation Code that Carmarthenshire County Council propose to discontinue Ysgol Gynradd Meidrim, Meidrim, Carmarthen, Carmarthenshire, SA33 5QN.  The school is currently maintained by Carmarthenshire County Council.

Carmarthenshire County Council undertook a period of consultation before deciding to publish this proposal. A consultation report containing a summary of the issues raised by consultees, the proposer’s responses and Estyn’s full response is available on Carmarthenshire County Council’s website.

It is proposed to implement the proposal on 31 December 2026.

There were 31 pupils registered at the school at the January 2025 census point. There were 32 pupils registered at the school at the January 2026 census point.

From 1 January 2027, it is proposed that pupils attend Ysgol Griffith Jones, Station Road, St. Clears, Carmarthenshire, SA33 4BT or Ysgol Hafodwenog, Trelech, Carmarthen, Carmarthenshire, SA33 6RU subject to parental preference and the Council’s admissions arrangements.

Ysgol Griffith Jones is a language category 3.2, Dual-stream community primary school.

Ysgol Hafodwenog is a language category 3, Welsh medium community primary school.

From 1 January 2027, it is proposed that the catchment area of Ysgol Gynradd Meidrim, be re-designated and included within the existing catchment areas of Ysgol Griffith Jones, Station Road, St. Clears, Carmarthenshire, SA33 4BT and Ysgol Bancyfelin, Bancyfelin, Carmarthen, Carmarthenshire, SA33 5ND.

Ysgol Bancyfelin is a language category 3, Welsh medium community primary school.

Parents retain the right to express a preference for any school of their choice including Ysgol Hafodwennog subject to the Council’s admissions arrangements. Please note that should a decision be made to close Ysgol Meidrim, any application will be assisted by choosing a school within the relevant revised catchment areas.

It will not be necessary to take any other measures to increase the number of school places.

Transport will be provided in accordance with Carmarthenshire County Council’s School Transport Policy. In particular, eligible pupils attending their nearest suitable school or the school designated by the Authority will receive free transport where they live beyond the statutory walking distance.

Transfer to secondary school will remain as per current arrangements.

The implementation of the proposal to discontinue Ysgol Gynradd Meidrim is seen as the most appropriate response to address the reasons identified in formulating the proposal due to the following factors:

• There are significant surplus places at Ysgol Gynradd Meidrim due to the falling roll over a number of years and only 32 pupils registered at the school at the January 2026 census point.
• Pupil projections remain low for the school.
• The school is currently operating in a budget deficit position and implementation of the proposal would prevent this situation from deteriorating further. 
• The school’s budget share per pupil is £6,544. This is £1,191 higher than the Carmarthenshire County Council primary school average of £5,973 for 2026-27.
• Closure of Ysgol Gynradd Meidrim supports Carmarthenshire County Council’s Primary Education Footprint Principles.

Objection Period

Within a period of 28 days after the date of publication of this proposal, that is to say by the 14 July 2026, any person may object to this proposal. Objections should be submitted through:

• completing the online survey
• by e-mail to MEPConsultations@carmarthenshire.gov.uk
• or by sending a letter to Mr Owain Lloyd, Director of Education and Leisure, Carmarthenshire County Council, Castle Hill, County Hall, Carmarthen, Carmarthenshire, SA31 1JP.

Signed: Mr Owain Lloyd

Mr Owain Lloyd, Director of Education and Leisure for Carmarthenshire County Council 

Dated: 16 June 2026

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This Explanatory Note does not form part of the Notice but is offered by way of 
clarification)

1. The intention of the Authority is to cease to maintain Ysgol Gynradd Meidrim on 31 December 2026, to make provision for those pupils to attend Ysgol Griffith Jones or Ysgol Hafodwenog. 
2. As from the 1 January 2027, the catchment areas for Ysgol Griffith Jones and Ysgol Bancyfelin will be amended to incorporate the current catchment area of Ysgol Gynradd Meidrim.
3. Ysgol Griffith Jones is a Dual Stream community primary school which caters for pupils aged 3-11.  The 2026/27 capacity of the school is 320 and the Admission Number is 40 for 2026/2027.
4. Ysgol Hafodwenog is a Welsh Medium community primary school which caters for pupils aged 4-11.  The 2026/27 capacity of the school is 86 and the Admission Number is 10 for 2026/2027.
5. Current school transport policy confirms that assistance with transport will be provided by the Authority for pupils who meet each of the following criteria:-
   (a)  are of compulsory school age;
   (b)  attend the nearest or the school designated by the Local Authority; and
   (c)  who reside over the statutory walking distance from the school of 2 miles.
6. In accordance with the Local Authority’s admissions policy, parents are entitled to apply for admission (or transfer request) to any school.