 Campaigners were granted a full judicial review in April |
The Welsh Assembly Government is trying to block a challenge to the closure of a rural school in Pembrokeshire. A judge has granted parents at Hermon School a full judicial review of the decision by the county council to shut the school.
They have also been awarded legal aid to cover their costs.
But the parents are now angry that they also have to apply for permission to seek a judicial review against the National Assembly, which is supporting the views of Pembrokeshire council.
 |  We genuinely feel that as parents we have not had a fair hearing in terms of the arguments that we have put forward  |
Welsh Education Minister Jane Davidson refused an appeal by parents to keep the school open earlier this year.
The council plans to close the schools at Hermon and Blaenffos and replace them with a new �1.5m building at Crymych.
Cris Tomos, of the Save Hermon School campaign, said parents were angry at the latest development.
"We genuinely feel that as parents, we have not had a fair hearing in terms of the arguments that we have put forward," he said.
 Pupils from Hermon would attend a new school in Crymych |
"It was great to see that the High Court hearing in April acknowledged some, if not most of our arguments.
"The judicial review in July would give an opportunity for both sides to give greater detail in terms of educational, community, costs, and transport.
"It is a county matter and it is only Pembrokeshire County Council who we wish to challenge.
"We are all dismayed that the Welsh assembly is now seeking permission in the High Court in London, to block our path to full judicial review in the court in Wales which is only a few weeks away."
However, a spokeswoman for the assembly said that it was the High Court which had ordered that the parents' challenge should be directed against the assembly as well as the council.
"The National Assembly accepts the logic of this ruling, since the minister's decision-making role is crucial in the process of school reorganisation," the spokeswoman added
Pembrokeshire council has labelled the legal challenge a waste of public money.
It says parents at Crymych and Blaenffos fully supported the merger and says the new school could now be delayed because of the ruling.
Former leader Maurice Hughes said previously: "I think it is disgraceful that legal devices are being used to prevent children in this area receiving the best possible education, and a ridiculous waste of public money. "Estyn (Welsh schools inspection body) inspection reports indicate that the standards of achievement and the quality of teaching are weaker at Hermon than at Blaenffos and Crymych schools."
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