How many rural schools have been closed in Wales over the past five years, and what assessment has the Welsh Government conducted on the impact of these closures on local communities?
The most recent data we hold shows that 50 schools closed between August 2019 and July 2024, of which 25 were amalgamated into other schools.
17 of these schools were listed as rural schools within the School Organisation Code, of which 6 were amalgamated into other schools.
For any proposed school closure, proposers should undertake a range of impact assessments, including a community impact assessment and consider and seek views on the impact on the Welsh language. The School Organisation Code provides advice on community impact assessments and Welsh language impact assessments.