AROUND 1,000 people have attended a public meeting at closure threatened Gwernyfed High School.
The council’s plan is to close both schools in summer 2017 and open the new school from that September. It would initially operate from the two existing sites before a new school could be built in Brecon.
Mum Beryl Pritchard, of Talgarth, said she attended the meeting as her daughter Lucy, 10, is due to start at Gwernyfed this September.
She said: "If this goes ahead she would be going to a school that is due to close within a year."
The mum said she hoped the large numbers who attended the meeting will persuade the council to rethink its proposals.
"Most people, I believe, don’t want Gwernyfed to close but is the consultation more of a listening exercise or are the council listening to consider other options or just because they have to as part of the process?
"The number of people who turned up showed their genuine concern and had really good arguments and has given me hope in strength in numbers. If it is a democracy then the council’s plans can’t go ahead."
Ms Pritchard said she was unconvinced by the council’s arguments that a fall in pupil numbers across Powys required closing the 450-pupil-school.
"It would be very sad if a good school is closed, it’s academically and financially sound," said Ms Pritchard.
The school’s supporters have said closing Gwernyfed will impact on the community, children’s education and the distances pupils have to travel. There are also fears more pupils would travel to Herefordshire for school and at post 16 while the school has said its sixth form is an important feature of its education.
The school site also hosts community facilities, including a drama hall and sports centre. Campaigners say there is uncertainty over what would happen to them if the school closes.
Powys council has said its plans will make secondary education in south Powys sustainable. It said falling pupil numbers is not only leading to a reduction in funding from the Welsh Government but making it harder for schools to provide a full curriculum and limiting choice for pupils.
The meeting followed a consultation meeting at Brecon High School on Tuesday.
Last week the council held consultation meetings at Builth Wells and Llandrindod high schools. It also plans to close both school next summer and open one new school, operating from the sites, from that September.
Welsh medium education would also be centralised in Builth Wells.
The public consultation period ends on May 23.