A heartfelt plea from a parent has urged the people of Pembrokeshire to sign a petition to help save Manorbier School - whilst at the same time slamming the Local Authority for ‘letting the children down’.

Manorbier Church in Wales VC School and its adjoining schoolhouse was severely damaged by a fire on October 11, 2022; and since then a ‘school from school’ has been set up in Jameston Village Hall for pupils.

A public consultation on the potential closure of Manorbier School, was launched recently by Pembrokeshire County Council - despite the staunch opposition of the diocese and fears it has been ‘steamrollered’ through.

County councillor for the ward, Cllr Phil Kidney said the diocese’s response “shows the council in a very bad light”

He said it was “evidently clear that the church is not going to let the council walk away from their responsibilities for the school,” adding: “This coming October it will be three years [since the fire] and we’re still nowhere near a resolution.

“The way the education department have treated this school is absolutely laughable.”

“Of course we should rebuild this school. We have an obligation to rebuild this school, it’s time to make the right decisions,” added Cllr Kidney.

Now words from a parent shared on social media, pointing people towards signing a petition, ring ‘loud and true’ many have said.

“Imagine seeing on Facebook that your children’s school is on fire. Imagine rushing to the car, driving down the hill, barely able to see through the smoke, your heart in your throat, thinking your two beautiful babies are in danger,” parent Charlotte Fortune shared on Facebook.

“Imagine the absolute horror as you run toward the school, engulfed in flames, fearing for their lives.

“Now imagine the relief when the head teacher and your dad meet you, reassuring you your children are safe. Imagine holding them tight, crying because they are okay.

“Now imagine calling the parents of other children to tell them the school is on fire—but their babies are safe too.Imagine staying up all night with your daughter, convinced her teacher died in the fire, inconsolable.

“Imagine the following day, taking her to see her teacher and watching them fall to the floor, hugging and crying together.

“Imagine the upheaval of salvaging what supplies you can from the burnt building to move to a community hall that’s become a temporary school—a hall that the Manorbier and Jameston community spent hours making safe and secure for the children.

“Now imagine the council doing absolutely nothing to help. They didn’t acknowledge the incident. They didn’t check in with children, parents, or staff. They promised to rebuild the school, set start dates—and then, after all that, decided not to.

“The parents of Manorbier don’t have to imagine. We’re living it. Pembrokeshire County Council have let our children down. They’ve ignored millions of emails and pleas from parents begging for even a sliver of information.

“They’ve held meetings behind closed doors, excluding us from any decisions about our school—the school we’ve worked tirelessly to protect.

“Words cannot capture the anger and disappointment. Our kids deserve better. They deserve the school that was taken from them,” she added.

Another mother responding on Facebook stated: “These words from a fellow parent ring loud and true. The day of the fire will forever haunt me and still brings me to tears.

“This is how the parents of Manorbier School are feeling Pembrokeshire County Council. You have no idea what you've put us through.”

The petition, runs to November 26, 2025 and is accessible on the council’s website.