Hello and welcome back to The Valleys Lead.
New figures obtained through a Freedom of Information request reveal rising costs for temporary teaching staff across Merthyr Tydfil schools. Meanwhile, a council report highlights staffing reductions, falling pupil numbers and a 41% drop in school reserves as schools struggle to balance their budgets.
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The Valleys Briefing
(A little round-up of some stories in brief from our valleys. Anytime you have something you’d like to share, no matter how big or small, email laurencrosbymedlicott@gmail.com):
Each year, Wales in Bloom recongnises the hard work to make Wales shine with stunning floral displays and green spaces. Abertillery was a Category winner for allotments with up to ten plots, a huge achievement. Abertillery, Llanhilleth, Six Bells, and Tŷ Ebbw Fach all received mention as well. The prestigious Norman Stewart Award, which is awarded annually to an individual or group that has made an outstanding contribution to Wales in Bloom and their local community, was presented to Ralph Henderson MBE and the Abertillery Aspiration Group. Wales in Bloom said of the group: “Over a relatively short period, the group has
transformed Abertillery through an ambitious programme of planting,
environmental improvements and community engagement. It has become one
of the most active contributors to both the Wales in Bloom campaign and the
RHS It’s Your Neighbourhood initiative. Despite challenging weather conditions and even the occasional attention of local sheep, the group has continued to create impressive displays throughout the town and along the Ebbw Fach Valley. Ralph’s leadership, energy and determination have been instrumental in the group’s success. Leading from the front, he has inspired others to become involved and has consistently overcome challenges with positivity and determination.”
Recently, we reported on how one parent is advocating for the vacated St Mary’s Primary School in Merthyr Tydfil to be used as a school for children with autism. A report that went before Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council last Thursday recommends the school to be used as an interim solution from April 2027 to provide additional capacity for Greenfield Special School until the completion of a new purpose-built special school. Let us know what you think about this at laurencrosbymedlicott@gmail.com.
The number of privately owned long-term empty homes in the Caerphilly Borough has fallen by 129 in just 18 months following the introduction of a council tax premium. The premium, introduced under Welsh Government legislation, aims to encourage owners to bring empty properties back into use, helping to increase the supply of homes available to local people. Since April 2025 owners of second homes located in the Caerphilly Borough and those with properties that have been empty for longer than 2 years pay 100% council tax. Owners of properties empty for longer than 3 years are asked to pay 200% council tax and 300% for those empty for over 5 years. Councillor Shayne Cook, Caerphilly County Borough Council's Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Housing, said “With housing demand continuing to grow, we need to make sure homes don’t stand empty when they could provide much-needed accommodation. Reducing long-term empty homes by 129 in just 18 months is a positive result and shows the council tax premium is encouraging owners to take action and forms part of the council’s wider strategy top reduce empty homes and bring them back into use. This includes a dedicated Empty Properties Team, who have been instrumental in achieving these results by supporting owners facing higher council tax premiums to find practical and timely solutions for their properties.
Every home brought back into use creates more opportunities for residents and strengthens our communities.”
Merthyr Tydfil schools cut 57 posts as supply staffing costs rise by nearly £600,000
The cost of employing temporary teaching staff in Merthyr Tydfil schools has increased by £596,869 since 2022-23, a Freedom of Information (FOI) request by The Valley Lead has revealed.
In 2022-23, the cost of employing supply teachers and teaching assistants in primary and secondary schools across Merthyr Tydfil was £3,143,669. This rose to £3,405,076 in 2023-24, £3,678,324.77 in 2024-25 and £3,740,538 in 2025-26.
A scrutiny committee report on Merthyr Tydfil Council’s school finances for 2025-26 revealed that, to help balance their budgets, schools identified 57 posts for reduction: 11 teaching posts, 44 learning support assistant (LSA) posts and two other posts. Most of these reductions were scheduled to take place from September 2025.
“Staffing remains the largest area of expenditure within school budgets,” the report stated.
The Valleys Lead wanted to establish whether the two findings were linked. Has spending on supply staff increased as a result of reductions in permanent teaching staff?
We asked the Council for a reply from the Cabinet Member for Education, Culture and Welsh Language to respond to our questions. However, it was a council spokesperson who got back to us, telling The Valleys Lead that decisions to engage supply staff are made by individual schools, based on pupils’ needs and the requirement to maintain safe and effective day-to-day provision.
“It is important not to assume a direct connection between reductions in permanent staffing and expenditure on temporary or agency staff,” the spokesperson said.
“Posts removed through restructuring or redundancy are not backfilled by agency staff. In most cases, agency staff are used only where other staffing options are not available and cover is necessary to allow a school to remain operational.”
The spokesperson explained that the 57 posts identified for reduction reflected changes to schools’ permanent staffing structures, with most relating to fixed-term contracts.
“No compulsory redundancies were required, although nine posts resulted in redundancy payments because of the employees’ length of service. The majority of departures have not been directly replaced, reflecting vacancy management, workforce restructuring, voluntary resignations and the expiry of fixed-term contracts.”
Addressing the increase in supply staff costs, the spokesperson said it was due to “higher agency costs, broader employment cost pressures and national expectations regarding fair remuneration for agency workers.”
Are Merthyr Tydfil’s school finances in trouble?
The rise in temporary staffing costs and reductions of teaching posts comes amid wider financial pressures facing schools across Merthyr Tydfil. But how serious is the situation, and what is driving it?
At the end of the 2025-26 financial year, schools in Merthyr Tydfil collectively held £511,000 in reserves. However, this represented a 41% reduction compared with the previous year.
Although schools remained collectively in surplus, their reserves had fallen significantly. This leaves them with less money to deal with unexpected costs and future budget shortfalls, increasing the risk of further cuts.
The problem is not unique to Merthyr Tydfil, with schools across Wales facing similar financial pressures.
One factor identified in the Council’s report is falling pupil numbers.
