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Island's small schools may close Island's small schools may close
(about 1 hour later)
Schools on Anglesey with fewer than 50 pupils may face closure as the island's council considers how to deal with surplus places and falling numbers. The smallest schools on Anglesey may face closure as the island's council considers how to deal with surplus places and falling numbers.
A council meeting will be told on Friday that Wales' 22 councils are examining the issue of falling numbers. A third of the island's schools have fewer than 50 pupils and surplus school places are costing £500,000 a year.
A council working group said the future of 17 of the smallest schools needs to be reviewed and some may have to close.
An Anglesey council spokesman said reorganisation was at an early stage and no decision had been taken.
A report to the council on Friday said Wales' 22 councils are examining the issue of falling numbers.
Other counties including Denbighshire, Carmarthenshire, Cardiff and Powys have already considered closures or mergers because of falling pupil numbers.Other counties including Denbighshire, Carmarthenshire, Cardiff and Powys have already considered closures or mergers because of falling pupil numbers.
About a third of the island's schools have fewer than 50 pupils. A majority of the officers on the working group of education officials is believed to favour holding a review of small schools of fewer than 50 pupils and closing them unless there are specific reasons for not doing so.
It is estimated that the surplus school places are costing Anglesey Council around £500,000 a year.
A working group of education officers set up by the council has concluded the future of the island's 17 smallest schools needs to be reviewed and some may have to close.
A majority of the officers on the group is believed to favour holding a review of small schools of fewer than 50 pupils and closing them unless there are specific reasons for not doing so.
Schools with more than 50 pupils and fewer than 150 could be considered for cluster or federal arrangements.Schools with more than 50 pupils and fewer than 150 could be considered for cluster or federal arrangements.
It is also recommended each primary school which is less than 75% full is also reviewed.It is also recommended each primary school which is less than 75% full is also reviewed.
Anglesey Council said reorganisation is still at an early stage and no decision had yet been made.
John Meirion Davies, an Anglesey councillor with responsibility for education, said: "The answer is not going to be the same everywhere. It will depend on circumstances.John Meirion Davies, an Anglesey councillor with responsibility for education, said: "The answer is not going to be the same everywhere. It will depend on circumstances.
"The number of pupils are falling and the money for everyone is also falling." "The number of pupils is falling and the money for everyone is also falling."