Powys council plans to shut 11 small primary schools

Eleven primary schools with fewer than 30 pupils could shut under proposals by Powys council.

The local authority has released more details about the planned closures following a meeting.

Among the small schools under threat are Aberhafesp, near Newtown, Llanfechain, near Llanfyllin and Castle Caereinion, near Welshpool.

A further 11 Powys primaries are being considered for closure as part of a separate catchment area review.

The review for schools with less than 30 pupils has been brought forward from next year because the council said they were no longer viable.

Following a meeting on Tuesday, Powys council said it would meet the governing bodies of all 11 small schools where pupil numbers were either below or projected to be below 30 over the next three years, and start "informal consultation".

Montgomeryshire MP Glyn Davies who was a pupil at Castle Caereinion, one of the schools under threat, said on Tuesday it was a "black day" and warned it could lead to "wholesale destruction" of primary education in the county.

Councillor David Jones, who is responsible for schools, said: "The council is committed to providing the best possible education facilities for our young learners through the schools modernisation initiative."

Mr Jones said it was inevitable some schools would close in the coming years as the authority responded to falling pupil numbers.

He added: "Closing a school is something that is never considered lightly but we have a duty to ensure our school network is capable of delivering high educational standards at a price we can afford.

"The schools have nearly 300 surplus places between them and reducing that figure will make up to £1m in savings that can be re-invested in other schools."

The council is also reviewing secondary education.

Since 2008, it has closed five small rural primary schools and built three new ones, while changes in the Ystradgynlais area are expected to be completed by September 2012.

In December, councillors voted to make a £220m bid for Welsh Assembly Government cash to help fund a 15-year plan for primary and secondary education.

As part of a £314m investment programme, the authority will have to find £94m of the total investment.