Former pupils and young people have spoken out against proposals to close Gladestry Church in Wales School, saying they want future generations to have the same opportunities to grow up in the village.

People gathered in Gladestry over the weekend to show their support for the school, which first opened in 1877 and Powys County Council is proposing to close in August 2027.

The council began the statutory process this summer following concerns about falling pupil numbers. The council said the school had 31 pupils on its roll in July, with council figures projecting that number would fall to 19 by 2030.

But former pupils say the school’s small size is one of its strengths, describing an environment where children of different ages learn from and support one another.

One former pupil said: “We learned from and were supported by one another to always do our best. We looked up to the big ones who helped us and then became the big ones ourselves helping the others.”

Another described their experience of attending the school as “idyllic” and said they wanted their own children to have the same experience.

“I want that for my own children too, being able to walk to school, learn Welsh, hold services in the church, explore the countryside on welly walks,” they said.

“A small school has so much more to offer than it seems on the outside. It feels like a family.”

Another former pupil said: “We always described ourselves as small but mighty. We always did well because we weren’t ever frightened that we wouldn’t. I think that is because we always looked out for each other. Small can be mighty!”

Past parent Dr Lauren Parry said she had moved to the area because of the school.

“Powys is facing the challenge of an ageing population. We need young people here and young people need schools,” she said.

“Proposing to close one of their most successful schools is not only short sighted, it flies in the face of their own call for a ‘Greener, Fairer, Stronger Powys’.

“We need young people to feel that they have a place in our county and staying here to work and to start their own families is valued.”

The group also pointed to Estyn’s 2023 inspection, which described Gladestry as “a happy and thriving learning community” with a “nurturing ethos”.

The council has said the proposed closure would help address low pupil numbers and surplus places while supporting the long-term sustainability of education provision.

At July’s Cabinet meeting, local county councillor Ed Jones argued that the school was performing strongly and said alternatives, including federation or shared leadership, should have been explored.

Cabinet member for education Cllr James Gibson-Watt said the council had considered different options and there were “no easy or good answers” to the situation.

The consultation on the proposed closure ends on Monday, October 26.

Residents can respond by emailing [email protected] or through the council’s online consultation.