A petition call to save a Pembrokeshire school at risk of closure has been lodged with the county council.

Ysgol Clydau in Tegryn is one of several small schools under threat as part of proposals from Pembrokeshire County Council’s School Modernisation Working Group.

At the May meeting of full council heard that there has been a 34 per cent decline in the school’s pupil population during the period 2015-2025, with no indication that this will be significantly reversed during the next five-six years.

The school was praised in its last Estyn report with inspectors describing it as a ‘happy, caring and welcoming community’.

However, the report from the council’s working group recommended that the Director of Education be authorised to commence statutory consultation on a proposal to discontinue Ysgol Clydau.

A plea on behalf of Ysgol Clyddau was launched at that meeting by Cllr Iwan Ward, local member, who said it was “the heart of our society not just a school, it’s family, a community, an anchor for children who deserve the opportunity to grow”.

He added that closure was “a disaster for the future of education locally” and was “not fair and was not moral”.

The petition on the county council’s own website, has attracted 124 signatures to date.

The e-petition, started by Sarah Farnden, reads: “We demand that Pembrokeshire County Council reconsider its decision to close Ysgol Clydau and instead prioritise the needs of our community by keeping the school open.

“We oppose the closure of Ysgol Clydau and call for full public scrutiny before any decision is made. We urge you to engage in a meaningful dialogue with the community, listen to our concerns, and work with us to find alternative solutions that support the needs of our children and families.”

It adds: “Ysgol Clydau is more than just a school; it’s a hub for community life, offering a safe and welcoming space for children, families and residents of all ages. Its closure will isolate our community, leading to a decline in population and a weakening of our social fabric. We believe small schools to be a bedrock of rural communities, essential in the survival of the Welsh language, and most importantly, as loving, centres of academic excellence for our children.

“Ysgol Clydau provides a high-quality education for our children, offering personalised attention and support. Closing the school will impact the educational outcomes of our children, and potentially create additional hardship for families. Not everyone has access to a car and shipping young children for miles on buses every day is just wrong.”

It finishes: “Ysgol Clydau has a rich history in our community, and its closure would represent a loss of our collective heritage and identity. There has been a school on the site of Ysgol Clydau since 1880 (145 years).”

Anyone who lives, works or studies within the Pembrokeshire County Council area may sign or organise a council e-petition. This includes anyone under the age of 18.

If the petition gets 500 signatures, the creator will have an opportunity to debate it at a full council meeting.

A change.org petition opposing the school closure has also been set up by Sarah Farnden, attracting 949 signatures to date.