The council says current school organisation is unsustainable

Councillors voted on Monday to start an official consultation process to discuss the future of the schools.

Anglesey Council said it was "not an option to do nothing," and that one in three schools with less than 50 pupils could face closure.

Objectors fear communities could suffer from school closures.

The council has been looking at how to respond to decreasing pupil numbers and the effect this has on its education budget.

According to the council's education department, 21 primary schools will have less than 50 pupils each by 2010.

It would kill the village if our school closed Linda Williams, parent

A draft consultation document on the reorganisation states that schools with less than 20 pupils should be considered for closure.

Schools with up to 50 pupils would then face the options of closure, clustering or a federal arrangement.

"The same solution is not suitable for each situation," but the "status quo is not sustainable," the document adds.

The smallest school on the island is Ysgol Aberffraw, which currently has 23 pupils.

Parent Linda Williams said: "I feel the children get a better education in smaller schools. It would kill the village if our school closed."

"Empty chairs"

Aberffraw councillor, Glyn Jones, said he questioned the figures used to back the call for closures.

"We have been told that each empty chair in a classroom costs �350 per year, but how much would it cost to bus a child elsewhere?

"It's not just money at the end either, as these schools are at the heart of these communities and serve to strengthen them."

Councillor John Meirion Davies is a member of the council's working group on education.

He said there were simply too many empty places in the island's schools.

"We have room for 6,000 pupils but we only have 5,000," he added.

"Consideration will be given to the effect on the communities of closing schools - it will be a factor when the matter is discussed.