A VILLAGE has been left devastated following the announcement that its primary school is to close within weeks.

Councillor Christine Walby, Chair of Governors at Govilon Primary School and the county council representative for the village said everyone in the community was 'saddened' by the decision which was announced late last week.

"Sadly, Govilon School is to close at the end of this term. This was a thriving and successful school of 69 children with good inspection reports only 13 months ago when MCC started their consultation process.

"During the process MCC appeared to disregard the facts and evidence put before it and gave parents a clear impression that the school would close despite the arguments.

"Not surprisingly this attitude prompted some parents, with the opportunity and resources, to move their children whilst vacancies existed reasonably close to home.

"Under the circumstances the Welsh Assembly Government appears to have had little option but to confirm closure."

Councillor Walby said she wanted to pay 'great tribute' to the staff and governors at the school.

"I want to pay tribute to the staff and governors as well as LEA school support staff who consistently worked hard in a very difficult situation to minimise the adverse effects of this process upon the pupils and their families.

"The governors understand perfectly why parents felt they had been placed in an impossible situation because of the uncertainty of the process and why they felt obliged to try and move their children to other appropriate schools whilst they had the chance."

School governors and community leaders are now concerned that the focus provided by the school for other crucial community facilities could now also be sacrificed.

"The thriving early years facility is now closing because no other suitable venue is available, and the other very well used after school and school holiday activities are similarly placed," said Councillor Walby.

"We believe the county council decision is both educationally flawed and detrimental to the social cohesion of a thriving community - a community which furthermore is about to grow, as we know from recent building activity and planning decisions.

"In future Govilon children will be scattered around different schools which will make it difficult for many parents to maintain contact; the local clergy who were actively involved in the school will be similarly placed and in addition the Govilon community is not currently represented on governing bodies of alternative schools.

"Currently Govilon School also provides a very good venue for out of school activities both in and out of term time. In future, unless significant and constructive help is forthcoming from MCC (which will no doubt capitalise on this valuable school site to develop more housing) many Govilon children will not be able to participate in after school and holiday activities.

Councillor Walby said "I will be asking council leaders to consider the issue of suitable out of school and holiday facilities for Govilon children with some urgency; particularly as there is in future going to be a significant increase of families and children in Govilon and nearby areas as recent planning decisions have indicated

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"There is now a real and pressing need for MCC to take effective action to meet the requirements of this growing community."

The Welsh Assembly Government's minister for Children, Education & Lifelong Learning, Leighton Andrews agreed to the closure of Govilon Primary School which will take place officially on August 31 2010.

Proposals to close the school, along with Llanover Primary, were put forward to try to tackle the county's 400 surplus school places.

A spokesman from MCC said, "A six week consultation on the proposals was held in summer last year before the final recommendation was passed on to the Assembly.

 The authority is charged by the Welsh Assembly Government to reduce surplus places. The authority cannot continue to spend taxpayers' money on empty places. We are notifying everyone affected and will work to ensure the closure goes smoothly."

• STAFF at Govilon School are inviting anyone who has a connection with the school to share their memories to attend an event on Wednesday, July 14 between 2.30pm and 4pm.