£15m investment will support Year 7 and 8 pupils in Universal Credit households from September

THE WELSH GOVERNMENT has confirmed an additional £15m investment to begin expanding free school meals for eligible secondary school pupils.

The funding will support plans to extend free school meal entitlement to secondary pupils whose households receive Universal Credit, removing the current household income threshold.

At present, secondary school pupils can only receive free school meals if their family receives Universal Credit and household earnings are below £7,400, excluding benefits.

From September, parents of pupils in Years 7 and 8 are expected to be able to apply under the new scheme, regardless of household income, provided the family receives Universal Credit.

The £15m package forms part of the Welsh Government’s supplementary budget for 2026-27.

It will include £10m in capital funding for school kitchens and dining areas, alongside £5m in revenue funding to help introduce the expanded scheme.

The move follows the previous roll-out of free school meals to all primary school children in Wales, which was delivered as part of the former co-operation agreement between the Welsh Government and Plaid Cymru.

Cabinet Minister for Education and Welsh Language, Anna Brychan, said the funding marked “the first step” in extending free school meals to more secondary pupils.

She said: “This work is about removing barriers to learning and supporting wellbeing.

“We know that access to nutritious food improves concentration, attainment and overall health.

“Building on the success of universal primary free school meals, we will ensure that as children move into secondary education those who need it most will continue to receive the support they need to thrive.”

First Minister Rhun ap Iorwerth said extending eligibility to more families on Universal Credit was part of wider efforts to tackle child poverty.

He said: “Starting this work is a key aspect of our 100 Day Plan and beyond — taking practical action by putting money back into families’ pockets and ensuring every young person has the opportunity to succeed, regardless of their background.”

Further details on the roll-out are expected to be announced in due course.

Giant puppet begins historic journey marking 850 years since the first Eisteddfod

MIST swirled around St Davids Cathedral on Friday evening as a giant Lord Rhys puppet emerged from the fog to begin a journey celebrating 850 years since the first recorded Eisteddfod.

Accompanied by traditional musicians and followed by crowds of spectators, the towering figure cut an imposing sight against the backdrop of the ancient cathedral.

The procession marked the start of Taith yr Arglwydd Rhys (The Journey of Lord Rhys), a cultural pilgrimage retracing the legacy of the Welsh prince whose gathering of poets and musicians at Cardigan Castle in 1176 is widely regarded as the first recorded Eisteddfod.

As fog drifted across the city and church towers faded into the background, the scene felt more like a chapter from Welsh folklore than a modern-day celebration.

The giant puppet, accompanied by fellow performers and musicians, travelled from St Davids Cathedral to Oriel y Parc before beginning a wider journey through west Wales.

The travelling celebration will visit communities across Pembrokeshire and Ceredigion before culminating in Cardigan, where Lord Rhys originally staged his famous cultural gathering eight and a half centuries ago.

Video and photographs shared by DrifterStDavids captured the remarkable atmosphere, with many describing the spectacle as one of the most memorable cultural events seen in St Davids for years.

Photo caption: Lord Rhys emerges from the mist outside St Davids Cathedral as celebrations begin to mark the 850th anniversary of the first recorded Eisteddfod

(Pic: SmallWorld – Video: Drifter St Davids)

Campaigners say Carmarthenshire must properly consider alternatives after judge’s ruling and last-minute amendment to statutory notice.

A HIGH COURT judge has warned Carmarthenshire County Council that alternative proposals to closing Ysgol Meidrim must be given proper and conscientious consideration before any final decision is made.

The ruling follows a judicial review challenge brought by parent Leia Perry over the council’s decision to consult on the future of the Welsh-medium rural primary school.

Although the High Court did not halt the closure process, campaigners say the judgment raises serious questions about the way the council has handled the matter.

Ysgol Meidrim, near St Clears, currently has around 30 pupils and has been earmarked for closure, with children expected to transfer to other schools from January 2027.

But the school community has mounted a determined campaign to keep it open, arguing that the school remains central to the future of the village, the Welsh language and rural life in the area.

The judgment, handed down by His Honour Judge Jarman KC, found that the challenge should be allowed to proceed, but ultimately dismissed it on the basis that the council still has an opportunity to properly consider alternatives during the ongoing process.

However, the judge made clear that those alternatives must now be considered conscientiously.

Campaigners say this is a significant warning to the council.

Ffred Ffransis, speaking on behalf of Cymdeithas yr Iaith in Carmarthenshire, said the organisation was not a party to the legal action, but understood why a parent of a child with severe medical needs had taken the case.

He said: “The judge criticised the lack of clear communication from the council and that governors had the impression that the council had not yet seriously considered alternatives to closure of Ysgol Meidrim, but found that the evidence did not yet reach the high threshold for legal intervention.

“He has warned the council that they must give conscientious consideration to the alternative proposals drawn up by governors.”

The governors’ proposals include developing the school as part of a wider community hub and exploring federation options rather than closure.

Cymdeithas yr Iaith said the council now had two choices: to press ahead regardless, or to withdraw the closure notice and enter into genuine discussions with governors over their plans.

Mr Ffransis added: “The council must at least demonstrate a new open attitude during the objections period to discussing the alternative proposals.”

The row has deepened after Carmarthenshire County Council was forced to withdraw and reissue its closure notice just three days after it was first published.

According to Cymdeithas yr Iaith, the original notice, issued on June 16, listed nearby Ysgol Bancyfelin as one of three receiving schools. The notice was then withdrawn after it emerged that Ysgol Bancyfelin was already over capacity.

A revised closure notice has now been issued, with the objection period extended until July 17.

The campaign group said this raised further concerns about the way the process was being handled.

Notices have also been placed at the school gates by supporters, making clear that Ysgol Meidrim remains open and encouraging parents to register children there.

One notice states that the judicial review judgment was critical of the council’s handling of the matter and that the future of the school has not yet been decided.

The campaign has attracted wider attention because of the Welsh Government’s presumption against closing rural schools.

Under the School Organisation Code, councils must carefully consider all reasonable alternatives before deciding to close a rural school, including federation and wider community use.

Campaigners argue that Ysgol Meidrim is not simply an education issue, but a question about the survival of Welsh-speaking rural communities.

The council has previously cited low pupil numbers, surplus places, budget pressures and curriculum challenges as reasons for proposing closure.

But opponents say the financial savings are small compared with the impact on the village and its Welsh-medium provision.