THE education minister is investigating a complaint Anglesey Council did not follow proper procedure when it decided to shut a village primary school.

In December the council’s Executive confirmed it was going to close Ysgol Gymuned Bodffordd –  despite 111 letters of objection.

The community had been battling hard to keep its village school open which, with over 80 pupils and close to capacity, also houses the community centre known as ‘Y Ganolfan’.

The school is set to be replaced by a new area “super school”,  with work scheduled to start this spring and Ysgol Gymuned Bodffordd closing once it is  complete.

But now campaigners have now been given fresh hope after education minister Kirsty Williams confirmed she would investigate if Anglesey Council had kept within the guidelines of the new Schools Organisation Code.

The code, adopted last November, established a presumption in favour of keeping rural schools open.

But despite Anglesey Council being adamant the decision was made with the code in mind, language campaigners say they were able to present “detailed evidence” the authority had failed in its duties.

Last month the authority’s planning committee approved the new multi million pound school which will cater for 360 pupils as well as another 90 nursery places, to be shared between the pupils of Ysgol Bodffordd and Llangefni’s Ysgol Corn Hir.

It is unclear if work on the new super school will now be delayed as a result of this probe.

Governors at Corn Hir, based just yards from the new school site, had broadly backed the new development due to their school already being oversubscribed and concerns over the condition of the building.

Ffred Ffransis from Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg, said: “If it’s possible to close a popular and full school like Bodffordd where 89% of the children are from Welsh speaking families, then no rural school is safe. And Kirsty Williams’ strategy of protecting rural schools would be meaningless.

“Ynys Môn Council has failed in its duties under the code in an effort to attract funding for new schools in Llangefni.

“Those new buildings are really needed in Llangefni, but it’s not fair, or lawful, that rural communities around the town have to suffer as a result.”

He added they had also suggested the Minister should direct the council to keep Bodffordd and Talwrn schools open, tailor the new two-site school to the needs of children in Llangefni town and create a “Cefni Federation” which includes these schools and the high school in a new “forward-thinking initiative” which would rationalise and optimise the use of resources.

“The Minister’s response is a very heartening, and we believe she is taking the matter seriously in order to ensure that her new policy protecting rural schools is not undermined,” he concluded.

“As Ynys Môn council looks at reorganising schools in the Amlwch area, the authority stills talks about closing schools.

“It’s obvious that they’re already ignoring the new, stronger version of the code which says they should start on the basis of a discussion about how to sustain rural schools, not how to close them.

“By taking action in Bodffordd’s case, the Minister needs to send a clear signal to local authorities that they have to take their responsibilities to Welsh-medium rural schools seriously.”

In her response to Cymdeithas, Kirsty Williams AM said: “I have asked my officials to consider the matters you have brought to my attention, and whether they represent a failure to conform with the Code.

“As part of those considerations, my officials will be writing to Ynys Môn Council to inform them that a complaint has been received and to ask for any further information we consider is necessary.”

In response, an Anglesey Council spokesman said: “We are aware of concerns raised and that a complaint has been lodged.

“Our officers are currently considering the complaint. They will also be liaising with colleagues in Welsh Government in respect of this matter.”