Parents held protests over the Anglesey schools

Anglesey Council's executive has voted to shut Ysgol Llanddeusant and Ysgol Aberffraw in August 2009.

However, a decision on the future of Ysgol y Parc and Ysgol Kingsland in Holyhead was deferred for a year.

The council said surplus places on the island cost it �425,000 in 2006, a figure set to rise to �625,000 by 2010.

Ysgol Aberffraw has just 17 pupils, while there are 23 pupils at Ysgol Llanddeusant.

Anglesey leader Councillor Gareth Winston Roberts said the closure decision had been "an extremely difficult" one, adding "but we have reached a point where difficult decisions have to be taken".

Ysgol Llanddeusant has just 23 pupils

"The status quo cannot remain and we have had to go down the same road as numerous other authorities in Wales," Mr Roberts said.

Their decision comes just days after Gwynedd councillors agreed to move ahead with plans to close 29 schools.

Mr Roberts said:"The problem of surplus school places must be tackled or we will be wasting hundreds of thousands of pounds that could be better used to improve school funding.

"We believe that this was the correct decision in order to meet the future education needs of all Anglesey pupils."

The closure decisions follow a review of 22 primary schools in the Bodedern and Holyhead catchments areas.

Schools in other areas of the island will undergo similar reviews in 2008.

'Ignoring the problem'

Education portfolio holder Councillor John Meirion Davies said: "We've listed to the views put forward in regard to Holyhead, and recognised that it's a growth areas in terms of the economy and projected housing."

Bur Mr Davies warned the deferral of the decision on the Holyhead schools did not mean they would be "ignoring the problem" of surplus places there.

He said this could eventually lead to closures.

Council officers have been requested to hold further talks with all Holyhead's schools.

The authority will also be asking for funding from the assembly government to establish a "new system fit for purpose", which could include a new purpose-built school.