Ysgol Llanddona to shut after Anglesey council vote

Llanddona has room for a total of 56 pupils - but currently has 14 children attending

A small primary school on Anglesey with just 14 pupils is to shut after councillors said it was unsustainable.

Anglesey council said Ysgol Llanddona, between Benllech and Beaumaris, will close its doors for the last time on 31 August 2014.

Its 13 children and one nursery school pupil will transfer to nearby Ysgol Llangoed.

Council leader Ieuan Williams said members of the executive had reached the decision with a very heavy heart.

Mr Williams, who is also responsible for education on the council executive, said: "The executive has reached its decision after a lengthy consultation process.

'Huge financial burden'

"It's undoubtedly a sad day for the local community, but we have to act in the best interests of the island as a whole.

"We face dwindling pupil numbers and high surplus places in many of our schools and the status quo simply isn't sustainable.

"Surplus places are placing a huge financial burden on the authority and our ability to provide education of the highest order across the whole county."

Anglesey's director of lifelong learning, Dr Gwynne Jones, said the council was losing around £400,000 a year due to surplus places in the primary education sector.