Carmarthenshire County Council has today (Wednesday 4 March) issued a notice to shut Ysgol Llansteffan, marking the end of an era for the local community.
The controversial move, which will see the school close its doors on August 31, 2026, will force pupils to move to Ysgol Llangain from September 1.
Council bosses have defended the decision, claiming the school has too many empty desks and a mounting budget deficit.
Official figures suggest the school had just eight registered pupils at the start of 2025, with bosses claiming there is little chance of numbers picking up.
But the Ysgol Llansteffan Parent Teacher Association has slammed the move, previously telling chiefs that pupil numbers were actually starting to grow. This follows a statutory closure notice that was issued in late 2025.
Language campaigners from Cymdeithas yr Iaith have also waded into the row, previously vowing to fight what they describe as “flawed” closure plans, and have now submitted a formal complaint to the Welsh Language Commissioner.
Ffred Ffransis, representing the group, has said that parents are “devastated” by the lack of support for the school in the council chamber today.
“Not only does closing a school disrupt children’s education and remove one of the main Welsh language institutions from the community, but we saw a democratic deficit today,” Mr Ffransis has stated.
He also hit out at the fact that there was “not a single word” in favour of the school from councillors during the meeting.
The school is one of four across the county facing the axe as part of a massive shake-up of local education.
Cllr Glynog Davies, Cabinet Member for Education, has admitted the decision was “difficult for everyone involved” and has been agreed with “sadness.”
