South Wales Evening Post - 11 November 2005
The threat of closure which hangs over a village school is to be reviewed by the Assembly.
Parents of children attending Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg, Garnswllt, hope the Assembly intervention could lead to a reprieve for the school.
The school is just one of those that face abolition next year, along with Dylan Thomas school in Cockett, under Swansea Council's revamp of school provision.
Swansea Council wanted the pupils from YGG Garnswllt to move to either YGG Bryniago or YGG Felindre.
It said that, with around 10 pupils at the school, it was not financially viable.
But the school said this figure would have risen to 15 by Christmas.Campaigners have also claimed that the journey to other schools would be too dangerous during bad weather, and are calling for a risk assessment to be carried out.
Last Friday was the final day of official consultation over the plans for closure, during which parents were able to register their opposition, automatically triggering a review by the Assembly.
Now, staff, parents and pupils are waiting to hear when the review will be undertaken.
Chairman of the board of school governors, Gareth Davies, said: "We are annoyed because we do not feel that every avenue for the school has been considered.
"In fact, we are unhappy and upset at the way the whole thing has been dealt with.
"Hopefully the Assembly will overturn this decision."
The school has the support of South West Wales Conservative AM Alun Cairns, who is also backing calls for the Assembly to adopt a small schools fund which would provide extra funding for local authorities to keep smaller rural schools open.
Mr Cairns said: "There is no doubt that Garnswllt school offers a unique form of education.
"There is no doubt that the journey to Felindre would be tortuous through the winter months and I have asked the local authority to conduct a risk assessment of the mountainous route."
A decision from the Assembly is expected at the end of March.
A council spokesman maintained the decision to close the school was made after considering alternatives.
"In each case, however, the very small number of pupils attending the school site rendered options impractical," he said.
"The concerns raised about the walking route to YGG Felindre and YGG Bryniago were fully reflected in the report, which was considered by cabinet in August.
"Under the existing policy, free transport is provided where a pupil has to travel more than two miles to their nearest appropriate school".
