Nearly 900 people have so far backed a petition by the ‘Save Powys Schools’ group calling on the Welsh Government to address concerns about funding cuts to rural education.

The petition was presented today (Tuesday) the Assembly’s petition committee by a delegation from Powys on the 1st December as they seek to ensure that children in rural communities are adequately supported throughout their time in schools.

In the forefront of the handover will be campaigners from Nantmel CiW Primary School – the latest rural school to face the axe.

Spokesperson for the Save Powys Schools group, Mary Compton, said: “The latest round of cuts to schools in the county have been appalling. The truth is communities like Powys have a particular need and extra resources are required to provide education for children living in sparsely populated rural areas like ours. This is something that is continually ignored and it puts the ability of schools, parents and teachers in those communities to provide a high quality of education for children in jeopardy.

“We are seeing class sizes increasing, teaching posts under threat and resources extremely thin on the ground. This will have a damaging effect on teaching and learning for all children but particularly for those with added needs, like those with learning difficulties.

“Meanwhile, the threat of closure still hangs over many schools in both the primary and secondary sectors. The future of sixth forms is uncertain and Sixth formers will be hit by a £10 per week transport charge. At the other end of the scale, early years education is being cut drastically with children not being able to start school till the September after their fourth birthday meaning that some won’t be starting till they are five. Breakfast clubs in smaller schools will close as there will be no funding.

“The numbers Powys people signing this petition are a reflection of the strength of feeling there is locally about this issue. We are hoping to meet with Assembly Members, including the Minister for Education Huw Lewis AM, when we present the petition and sincerely hope it makes the Welsh Government take notice of the threat we are seeing to the education provision in rural Wales.”