PUPILS at a Powys primary school threatened with closure have starred in an emotional and spirited video aimed at saving it.

The video certainly tugs at the heart strings as Churchstoke County Primary School’s defiant 38 pupils dance and sing throughout the three-minute clip, uttering phrases like “We are more than just a school” and “Please save our school, don’t shut us down”.

Churchstoke is one of four schools that have been earmarked for closure by September 2022 by Powys County Council – whose cabinet decided on February 9 to start the statutory process. The consultation process to close the school – as well as Castle Caereinon Church in Wales School near Llanfair Caereinion, Llanfihangel Rhydithon County Primary School in Dolau near Llandrindod Wells and Llanbedr Church in Wales School near Crickhowell – is due to begin imminently.

Those opposed to the school’s closure hope to use the video to convey just how vital Churchstoke Primary School is to the local community, in addition to promoting an online petition aimed at saving it – which has already attracted more than 1,400 signatures.

“Churchstoke CP School is at the heart of our community and is under threat,” said parent Rebecca Gotthardt, who started the petition.

“This proposal has already been to cabinet and they have decided to go to consultation. Our consultation period starts within the next week or so and will only give us 42 days to fight the proposal.

“As you can imagine, this is quite hard given the current situation; to get our fight across and have everyone’s input, with meetings, ideas and members of the community not being online.

“We have managed, however, to put together a music video and song with the children to make people aware of our fight and get behind us, which we want to make viral and show how strong of a school and community we are and that our school is within a growing and thriving community and is worth saving.”

Although battling to save a school earmarked for closure is already an uphill task, trying to save it during a pandemic makes it that much more arduous for parents, pupils, teachers and local residents. But the petition and the video has attracted plenty of media interest in Wales, including a radio station, while Rebecca and her colleagues have contacted ITV’s This Morning show too.

“We have 38 children currently on role, with 28 houses having just been built within the village, 40 houses currently being built and another 60 houses planned – there is a significant number of more children arriving into the village who will attend the school,” added Rebecca.

“In the village there is also a playgroup connected to the school which is at maximum capacity. If the school closes, the playgroup closes too.

“The council’s point is we have low numbers and these will not increase, but this evidence shows otherwise. On top of this, no-one has been in touch with the playgroup about the school closure, the playgroup is charity run and rents ground from the school.

“As well as the above, the points given within the cabinet meeting to move forward with the proposal of shutting the school are all outdated and incorrect, therefore they should not be used within the decision making – which is one of the things we will be fighting with our consultation, as well as other points regarding housing and three options of English schools.

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.”

The Churchstoke petition currently has 1,432 signatures and there is also a hard copy available to sign at Churchstoke Shopping centre, while leaflets with information have been delivered to homes in the village and surrounding areas. Click here to add your name to the online petition.