The school's future will be decided later this month

Llangedwyn school, which has 48 pupils, will close if councillors choose an option to build an area school at Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant to replace the decaying Victorian building.

In January members of Powys Council's education committee voted for the other option of building a replacement school at Llanrhaeadr, which has 73 pupils, to enable Llangedwyn to remain open.

But on Tuesday that decision was overturned by the council's board, which is backing a move to close Llangedwyn school.

I understand this sort of decision is never easy and there are arguments in favour of closing small schools like Llangedwyn Lembit Opik MP

The final decision will be made by the full council on 26 February.

This is believed to be the first time that the full council will be faced with a subject committee and the board making different recommendations to it.

School gate

Head teachers of both schools have supported the "replacement" school option which would cost �1.7m, and the board's decision has been criticised by Montgomeryshire MP Lembit Opik.

"I understand this sort of decision is never easy and there are arguments in favour of closing small schools like Llangedwyn," said Mr Opik.

"But to me the issue extends far beyond the school gate.

Pupils will have to travel another five miles if the school shuts

"How can we encourage development and economic growth in rural areas when we remove the heart of the community."

Llangedwyn county councillor Harry Hughes said he was still confident the board's decision would be overturned by the full council.

"Fortunately the ultimate decision rests with the full council and I believe a majority of councillors will support keeping Llangedwyn school open," he said.

The schools were among a dozen in Powys threatened with closure after the local authority started a review of primary schools last May.

Nine of the schools were saved last November but a decision on the schools at Llanrhaeadr and Llangedwyn was deferred for more information.