A PETITION to prevent the closure of a village primary school on the Powys-Shropshire border has drawn more than 1,400 signatures.

Churchstoke Community Primary School is one of four schools that have been earmarked for closure by September 2022.

Powys County Council’s Cabinet agreed to start the statutory process and consultation on the proposals will is expected to start by the end of this month.

More than 1,400 people have signed a change.org petition which launched three weeks ago calling for Powys County Council to “save our school, save our children, save our families and save our community”.

There are currently 38 pupils enrolled at the school, with seven joining in September and four progressing to secondary school.

Councillor Phyl Davies, Cabinet Member for Education and Property, said: “These proposals have not been reached lightly but we have ensured that the best interest of the learners at these four schools were at the forefront of our discussions and decision-making.

“If these schools were to close, then the learners would be attending schools that would be better equipped to meet the requirements of the new national curriculum and that could provide a wider range of educational and extra-curricular opportunities.”