Uncertainty over island schools

There have been protests about school closures

The future of up to 15 primary schools in Anglesey would be uncertain if a council adopts a new method of choosing schools to be considered for closure.

Previous school closure plans on the island in north Wales were abandoned after a change in political leadership following last May's elections.

But five schools in the Holyhead area could be under consideration for closure along with 10 unnamed schools.

Like other councils in Wales, Anglesey has seen pupil numbers decline.

The council predicts that over the next 10 years there will be around 1,750 surplus primary school pupil places.

If the new selection method is accepted, the future of up to 15 schools, out of a total of 52 primary schools on the island, will be considered.

The list of possible schools includes five in the Holyhead area - Ysgol y Parc, Ysgol Llanfawr, Ysgol Llaingoch, Ysgol Kingsland and Ysgol y Parch Thomas Ellis.

The report does not identify the other 10 schools which would be under consideration.

A school's future would be considered if two of the following three criteria were met:

• Where surplus places are over 25%

• Schools with fewer than 50 pupils in September 2008 and where projections show that pupil numbers will be under 30 by 2011

• Where the cost per pupil in 2008/9 is over �4,000

A report will be discussed by the council executive on Monday.