The school with just two pupils

NUMBERS HAVE FALLEN FROM 17 A YEAR AGO ... AND NOW THE VILLAGE CLASSROOMS ARE SET TO CLOSE

- By DALE SPRIDGEON

A SCHOOL which only has two pupils is being earmarked for closure by the council.

Cyngor Gwynedd's cabinet approved publishing a statutory notice over a plan to shut Ysgol Y Garreg at Llanfrothen, during its meeting on Tuesday.

The school had 17 pupils last year, but the figure had dropped to nine by last September and was now down to just two year 6 pupils, with no new registrations for the reception class for the coming September.

The notice will allow a 28-day period for objections to the intention to close the school on August 31.

Ysgol Cefn Coch will be the alternative school for the area from September 1, if the closure goes ahead.

A report said the decision had been sought to address "the critical situation" at the school and the meeting heard that the situation was due to falling birth rates.

Cabinet member for education Cllr Dewi Jones said: "This isn't anything new for us in Gwynedd, to be honest, it is the result of major changes in the demographics of the county.

"Back in 2011 to 2021, a comparative period of 10 years, by the end there were just over 1,500 fewer children in the 0-15 years old range - that is obviously going to have an impact on our county and our schools.