Pupils bid to help save school

Pupils from a closure-threatened Powys primary school will be out in force tomorrow to present a petition to the county's education chiefs pleading their case for it to remain open.

Parents, children, governors, staff and supporters from Howey School will be at County Hall in Llandrindod Wells, hoping to speak directly to councillors as they arrive for a Powys County Council meeting.

Their action comes as the consultation term of the first phase of a review of primary education in Powys nears its end.

Howey School - along with Ysgol Gynradd Carno, Llanfihangel School, Llanwddyn's Ysgol Efyrnwy, Llangurig Primary School and Pontneathvaughan's Ysgol Thomas Stephens - have all been earmarked for possible closure.

Sarah Millington, one Howey School parent, said: "We have a petition signed by more than 600 people, as well as numerous letters of objection against the proposal to close our school.

"We particularly wanted to present our case on Tuesday while the children are still on holiday and can be there.

"We have been quite happy to fight this on their behalf, but they are worried about the possibility their school will close.

"It's very much about them and their education, but so far officials have refused to speak directly to them."

Mrs Millington said, although parents had tried to shield their children from the worry of their uncertain future, most of them knew what was happening.

"I know of children who have been having nightmares about it and another who's refusing to go to school if Howey closes," she added.