A PRIMARY school in Abergavenny has been saved from closure thanks to a majority Cabinet vote at Monmouthshire County Council.

We reported last week how Govilon, Llanover and Llanfair Kilgeddin faced the axe in a review into falling rolls and 400 surplus places at north Monmouthshire primary schools.

However the anglican school Llanfair Kilgeddin was saved at Monmouthshire County Council's cabinet and will now not be considered for potential closure in the review.

All of the cabinet, with the exception of the leader, councillor Peter Fox, voted to exclude the school from future consultation.

Parents - who filled the public gallery at the meeting - said they were "thoroughly pleased" with the decision to save the primary, a voluntary aided school with 34 pupils.

At the meeting councillor Fox said, "Llanfair Kilgeddin is physically inadequate however, it must be noted that there's been a significant turn around in the amount of children going to that school."

Councillor Brian Hood moved that Llanfair Kilgeddin should not go forward to 'informal consultation'.

He said, "I think it's premature to include Llanfair Kilgeddin now. This is a voluntary aided school and the only one in the north of the county.

"The numbers (of pupils) are growing. This shows that there is a demand." Councillor Hood said if the Church in Wales school closed parents who choose an Anglican education could be forced to drive their children to Magor or Portskewett.

As supporters for Llanfair Kilgeddin celebrate the future is still uncertain for Govilon and Llanover Primary Schools. Llanover has 35 surplus places while Govilon has 49.

Councillor Bryan Jones said he is old-fashioned and "politically incorrect enough to believe Britain is a Christian country."

"I will stand by those who wish to educate their children in a Christian school," he said.

Parents, staff and pupils delighted by the vote of confidence shown by the Cabinet said their hard work paid off.

"A week of very hard work by the parents, gathering information together to show how successful the school is in so many areas and how important it is to the community has paid off. The parents would like to thank the church for their strong support and promise of financial aid for the ambitious building programme planned for the school.

"Everyone in the community is delighted that the future of the school is now secure,"Jemima Myrddin-Evans.

Parents will have the opportunity to have their say at a series of local meetings and presentations where they will be able to ask questions and speak to senior officers and councillors from the Local Education Authority. The consultation process, both formal and informal is likely to take several months during which time the council will seek the views of all interested parties including parents, staff, Governors and trade unions.

Director of education Andy Keep said, "At this stage nothing has been decided. We want to get the views of as many people as we can in order to present a true picture to the Welsh Assembly Government who will be making the final decision."

Councillor Liz Hacket Pain said, "Cabinet carefully considered the proposals put before us and decided to undergo a consultation process. These proposals also included the closure of Llanfair Kilgeddin Primary school but after careful consideration we agreed that this was not in the best interests of all concerned, so have decided it should not go forward as a proposal for closure."

•Meetings have been arranged for parents and local residents.  They will take place on:

Llanover Primary – June 1

Govilon Primary – June 2

A meeting has also been arranged for June 3 for parents, staff and local residents of other affected schools, details to follow.