Ceredigion schools in Beulah, Trewen and Cilcennin set to close

Parents have campaigned to save Ysgol Beulah from closure

Ceredigion council leaders are to press ahead with the process to close three primary schools in the county.

If confirmed, pupils of Ysgol Beulah and Ysgol Trewen in the south of the county will go to school in Cenarth.

Lyndon Lloyd, a councillor for Beulah, said it was a "very sad day" following a dilemma over which school to save.

Cilcennin Community School near Aberaeron is also set to close, despite calls for a pause pending consultation over future schooling in that area.

Trewen has 9 pupils, Beulah 17 and Cilcennin 13, with those numbers predicted to fall further, senior education officer Meinir Ebbsworth told the council cabinet on Tuesday.

The cost per pupil of running the three schools ranged from £7,607 for Beulah, to £7,927 a year for Cilcennin and £8,480 a year for Trewen.

Each figure is more than twice the average for Ceredigion schools at £3,761 per pupil.

Councillor Lloyd said parents in Beulah had presented research supporting the survival of small schools, and asked the cabinet to respect their views.

However, council leader Ellen ap Gwynn replied: "We do listen, but we can't always do what they want us to do because of the financial situation."

• Closure options considered for schools

• Ceredigion schools decision on hold

• Rural schools offered extra protection

Marc Davies, a councillor representing Ciliau Aeron, claimed the school in Cilcennin had few pupils because parents began sending their children elsewhere when closure was first raised as a possibility in 2015.

He said it would be "common sense" for Cilcennin to stay open pending a decision on plans for an area school for the Aeron Valley which would replace four local schools.

Statutory closure notices will be published in the new year to give people a further opportunity to oppose the proposals.

The responses to be considered by the cabinet in March, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

If the cabinet decides to carry on with the proposals, the final decision on closures will be taken by the full council in June.