While campaigners celebrate Churchstoke Primary School being saved, plans to close Castle Caereinion Church in Wales School are now set to go ahead.

Earlier this year, Powys Council's cabinet gave the go-ahead for a statutory notice to be published formally proposing the closure, which led to 21 objections being received.

Now cabinet has confirmed that the closure will go ahead on August 31 next year, with pupils transferring to their nearest alternative school.

Cllr Phyl Davies, cabinet member for education and property, said: “After carefully considering the objections, cabinet have approved the proposal to close Castle Caereinion Church in Wales School.

“We are committed to transforming the learner experience and entitlement for our learners and we will achieve this by delivering our Strategy for Transforming Education in Powys 2020-2030.

“Our strategy is ambitious, exciting and we believe it will give our learners the best possible start they deserve. However, as we start to implement it, we will be faced with significant decisions as we look to address some of the challenges facing education in Powys which include the high proportion of small schools in the county, decreasing pupil numbers and the high number of surplus places.

“This decision has not been reached lightly. Not only was it robustly challenged by senior leaders within the council at every step, but it was developed with the best interest of the learners, who have been at the forefront of our discussions and decision-making.”

Powys County Council is looking to reconfigure primary school provision in the county as part of its Strategy for Transforming Education in Powys 2020-2030.