Community rallies to save Ysgol Clydau from closure
A grassroots campaign is gaining momentum to save Ysgol Clydau, a small rural school in Tegryn, Pembrokeshire, from proposed closure under Pembrokeshire County Council’s school modernisation plans.
The school, which has served the community since 1880, is facing closure due to declining pupil numbers. Council figures show a 34% drop in enrolment between 2015 and 2025, prompting a statutory consultation process expected to begin later this summer.
But residents, parents, and local councillors are pushing back. As of 6 July, the petition hosted on Change.org opposing the closure of Ysgol Clydau has gathered 949 signatures, demonstrating strong and growing public support. The petition remains open to anyone who lives, works, or studies in the Pembrokeshire County Council area—including under-18s—and will be eligible for formal presentation to the council once it reaches 500 signatures, a milestone it has already surpassed.
Campaigners argue that closure would isolate the community, weaken its social fabric, and create hardship for families—particularly those without access to private transport. “Shipping young children for miles on buses every day is just wrong,” the petition states.
The petition also highlights the school’s role in preserving the Welsh language and rural identity. “We believe small schools to be a bedrock of rural communities, essential in the survival of the Welsh language, and most importantly, as loving centres of academic excellence for our children.”
Local councillor Iwan Ward, speaking at a recent full council meeting, described Ysgol Clydau as “the heart of our society—not just a school, it’s family, a community, an anchor for children who deserve the opportunity to grow.” He warned that closure would be “a disaster for the future of education locally.”
Ysgol Clydau was praised in its most recent Estyn inspection, with inspectors calling it a “happy, caring and welcoming community.” Staff were commended for fostering strong relationships with pupils and delivering a curriculum that makes purposeful use of the local area.
The petition also raises concerns about financial and social impacts. “Closing the school will result in increased costs for families and individuals including additional travel costs to attend alternate schools, lost opportunities for our children, and potentially lead to the loss of other community services,” it reads.
Campaigners say the school offers vital social and recreational opportunities, including community events, and warn that its closure would lead to “social isolation and impact the wellbeing of the community.”
A similar situation arose in Carmarthenshire, where Mynyddygarreg School was successfully removed from closure plans following robust community opposition and widespread local engagement.
If the petition reaches 500 signatures, its creator will have the opportunity to present it formally to the council. Anyone who lives, works, or studies in the Pembrokeshire County Council area—including under-18s—is eligible to sign.
As the consultation process approaches, campaigners are urging residents to make their voices heard. “We demand that Pembrokeshire County Council reconsider its decision to close Ysgol Clydau and instead prioritise the needs of our community by keeping the school open,” the petition concludes.
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