Governors at a Mid Wales school saved from threat of the axe have hit out at Powys County Council, saying consultation to close it was a waste of time and money.

Barbara Jessop, chairman of governors at Castle Caereinion Primary School, near Welshpool, said the school always knew that pupil numbers were healthy and were not going to be under guidelines which would mark it for possible closure.

She said the council’s consultation into closing the school had used up time, money and effort, as well as worrying parents and pupils.

And elsewhere a survey carried out by the Friends of Llanfyllin School has shown that 90 per cent of parents believe sending Welsh and English speaking children to different schools would divide the community. Some parents have branded the idea as “cultural apartheid”.

Mrs Jessop said: “Castle Caereinion Primary School is pleased but not surprised at the recommendation made to the Powys County Council cabinet to keep this vibrant and successful Church in Wales school open.

“We knew that our pupil numbers were healthy and a phone call to the school would have saved the county a lot of money and us a lot of effort. As the chair of governors, I would like to say a huge thank you to everybody who supported the school.”

Last week it was announced that the council’s cabinet was recommending plans to save Castle Caereinion, Pontrobert, Nantmel and Dolau schools. But it was recommended that formal consultation begin to close primary schools at Cwmdu, near Crickhowell, Dolfor, near Newtown, and Trefnanney, near Meifod, at a meeting in July.

The closures are part of a consultation into the future of primary education in Powys, where falling pupil numbers have left some schools with fewer children than recommended. Councillor Stephen Hayes, Powys County Council cabinet member for schools, said: “We are facing a significant problem of surplus places.”

There are fears Llanfyllin High may become a single language school.

By Andrew Morris and Sue Austin