Parents, pupils and staff are urging local people to help them fight the proposed closure of their primary school in Crickhowell.

Powys County Council has launched a consultation on its proposal to close Llanbedr Church in Wales School.

The council is asking for views from the public on the proposal. If it goes ahead, the school could close at the end of August 2022 with pupils transferring to their nearest alternative school.

In a statement released on Monday the school’s governors, parents and children of Llanbedr Church in Wales School call on everyone in the local community to respond to the consultation by the Conservative/Independent led Powys County Council to close our school.

It said: ‘‘They are pressing ahead with this even though our children have already endured an unprecedented year of worry and upheaval.

‘‘We totally refute the assertion made by Powys County Council that the closure decision has been made in the best interests of the learners at the school and that the children were at the forefront of the decision making.

‘‘Powys are not providing any new schools in our area and our children are NOT part of their “Transforming Education” plans.

‘‘Powys County Council state that the children would be attending schools better equipped to deliver the new curriculum with a wider range of educational and extra-curricular opportunities.

‘‘This is also untrue as Llanbedr Church in Wales School is at the forefront in implementing the new curriculum and is more than equipped to deliver the requirements of the new curriculum in the future.

‘‘The school provides an extensive range of educational and extra-curricular activities for pupils and members of the community. There are outstanding facilities including much outdoor learning, sport, puppet club, and only last week a Year 3 pupil won a County art prize.

‘‘In 2018 Llanbedr won the Welsh Primary Schools Cricket championship and in 2019 were overall champions in a National STEM competition.

‘‘The majority of Llanbedr School’s children travel from outside the catchment to benefit from the Christian ethos, the inclusive welcome and focus on well-being.

‘‘It is the only school in the area with an extensive range of after school extra-curricular clubs five days a week, plus breakfast club. The school has increasing numbers and is a thriving happy environment for all children.

‘‘Powys County Council are making statements and promises of “a better education” which we believe they are unable to deliver.

‘‘Please everyone - make your views known. This affects us all. It affects our rural communities. It affects whether we want our villages to thrive.

‘‘It affects all schools in our area as it will increase class numbers in these schools which are already near capacity.

‘‘It affects our children now and our children in the future. Make your views known.

‘‘Visit https/:en.powys.gov.uk/transformingeducation’’

Dr Caroline Turner, chief executive of Powys County Council, said: “We are committed to transforming the learner experience and entitlement for our learners and we will achieve this by delivering our Strategy for Transforming Education in Powys 2020-2030.

“Our strategy is ambitious, exciting and we believe it will give our learners the best possible start they deserve. However, as we start to implement it, we will be faced with significant decisions as we look to address some of the challenges facing education in Powys which include the high proportion of small schools in the county, decreasing pupil numbers and the high number of surplus places.

“This proposal has not been reached lightly but we have ensured that the best interest of the learners at this school were at the forefront of our discussions and decision-making.

“If this school is to close, then the learners would be attending schools that would be better equipped to meet the requirements of the new national curriculum and that could provide a wider range of educational and extra-curricular opportunities.

“However, it is important that the people of this school community as well as the wider area have their say on this proposal. I would urge them to send their views so that they can be considered.”

To respond to the consultation, visit https://en.powys.gov.uk/transformingeducation and follow the links.

If you would like a paper copy of the consultation document, please contact the Transforming Education Team by phoning 01597 826618 or emailing [email protected]

You can respond to the county council in writing by emailing [email protected] or via post at Transforming Education Team, Powys County Council, County Hall, Llandrindod Wells, LD1 5LG.

The consultation will close on Wednesday, June 9, 2021.