The Covid-19 pandemic has highlighted the need to retain small rural schools, campaigners have argued, urging Anglesey Council to scrap its school reorganisation programme.

With only around a third of pupils allowed at any one time when schools reopen on June 29, Cymdeithas yr Iaith argues that reopening closed schools or temporarily using village halls should also be considered in order to provide children with a safer learning environment and avoid travel.

The pressure group has long argued against proposals to shut Ysgol Bodffordd and Ysgol Talwrn ar part of a reorganisation of schools in the Llangefni area, with consultations launched on both proposals.

Launched in February, a public consultation on the £16m plans includes proposals for a new school to replace the 69 pupil Ysgol Bodffordd and Ysgol Corn Hir with Ysgol y Graig in Llangefni expanded to welcome pupils from the 40 pupil Ysgol Talwrn.

But many, including the island’s Member of the Senedd, have argued that the closure of Bodffordd and Talwrn was “not necessary” to facilitate new and “desperately needed” facilities in Llangefni.

Cymdeithas yr Iaith, in a letter to the island’s ruling group, has urged the authority to build a new facility for Ysgol Corn Hir “as a matter of urgency”, citing both safety and educational reasons’, adding that the building “would be ready by now had all the arguments over reorganising education have been avoided.”

They also argue that with children only allowed to mix in groups of up to eight and having to stay in the same room when indoors while keeping two metres apart, Covid-19 had shown that large, centralised schools that required children to take the bus were now “wholly unsuitable”

It went on to note: “During this time of crisis, you could very easily achieve consensus by submitting an amended application for funding as soon as possible to build a new school for Corn Hir and for a modification for Ysgol y Graig – and this would be for an increasing number of children in the Llangefni town itself.

“At the same time you could provide assurances regarding the future of Ysgol Bodffordd (which is full and in need of an extension) and Ysgol Talwrn (which is only four pupils below capacity).”

Ffred Ffransis, Cymdeithas yr Iaith’s spokesperson on rural schools, added: “The Covid-19 pandemic makes it clearer than ever that rural schools are assets that ought to be treasured, and that plans to centralise schools ought to be dropped, as such plans threaten rural communities.

“There is a serious need for Ynys Môn County Council to listen to the island’s residents and commit to support, not destroy, our communities.

“Not only this, the Council should also move swiftly to build a new school for Corn Hir Llangefni as soon as possible; Carmarthenshire County Council has already restarted the process of new school-building and there is no reason we cannot follow its example here in Ynys Môn.

“The current situation in Ysgol Corn Hir isn’t fair on the pupils, the parents or the teachers.”

In response, coucil leader Llinos Medi said: “My priority, and that of the county council right now, is responding to the Coronavirus emergency.

“Of course, when things settle down we will have an opportunity to revisit the normal work programme which includes school modernisation.

“Certainly it is too soon to come to any conclusions on any matters that were being considered prior to the emergency.”