A FORMAL consultation on the closure of a Llŷn primary school is set to be approved by councillors next week.

Despite having a capacity of 53, Ysgol Llanaelhaearn has only eight pupils on the books –  a figure that’s expected to fall even further to just five by 2021.

As a result, members of Gwynedd Council’s cabinet will next week be asked to approve a formal consultation on closing the school and sending the pupils 3.6 miles away to Ysgol Bro Plenydd, Y Ffôr from September 2020.

According to Gwynedd Council, the decision has to be made after a dramatic fall in pupil numbers, having dropped from a high water mark of 42 in 2012.

This, the report notes, leaves the school in a “vulnerable position” and under “increasing budgetary pressures” with the average cost per pupil for 2019/20 standing at £12,671, compared with the county-wide average per pupil cost of £3,884 for the same period.

The school, which has no permanently-based head teacher, currently shares with Ysgol Garndolbenmaen and Ysgol Chwilog,  with one full time primary teacher and a full time assistant based at Llanaelhaearn.

Pupils, if the school were to close, would be eligible for free transport to Y Ffôr.

The local councillor, said that it would be a “very sad day” if the school were to close, but accepted that pupil numbers had fell to a “very concerning level.”

“I am concerned and disappointed by the situation that exists at Ysgol Llanaelhaearn, a school that provides a very high standard of education for children in the catchment area,” noted Cllr Aled Wyn Jones, responding to the report.

“One of the main things that has led to a 60% drop in the number of children over the last 3 years is comments made at a meeting in the School during July 2016 by Officers from the Education Department regarding the future of the school at that time.

“Following these comments a number of parents removed their children from the school. Indeed, it must be said that many of those on the School’s governing body moved their children to other schools following the comments made by the officials at that meeting.

“This was undoubtedly the main ‘catalyst’ for a decline in the number of children over the last period.

“I think (closure) would have a long-term impact on the attempt to regenerate and develop the community, attracting new families (with children) to live in the village.

“There is a plan to seek the development of 15 new social housing in the Village. It is likely that the closure of the school would influence the decision of some prospective families.

“I trust that the statutory consultation will be fair and thorough and I hope that there will be some way to save the small school of Llanaelhaearn.”

According to the authority’s head of finance, the move would save around £75,518 to the authority after additional transport costs were taken into account.

Cllr Cemlyn Williams, the cabinet member for education, said: “Our duty to ensure the best education and experiences for all Gwynedd’s children is at the heart of the report being presented to the Cabinet.

“To date, we have held discussions with the school’s Governing Body and other relevant stakeholders over the past few months and I would like to thank them for their passionate input and their commitment in trying to find potential solutions to the challenge presented of critically low numbers at the school.

“Having thoroughly evaluated these options, and considering the projections that numbers will fall further to five pupils at the school by 2021, we are of the opinion that Ysgol Llanaelhaearn’s situation is not viable for the future.”

A decision on the formal consultation is expected when Gwynedd Council’s cabinet meets in Caernarfon on Tuesday, November 5.