Head teacher Fiona Jones says pupils will miss the school

The closure of Llanddowror School has added significance as education pioneer Griffith Jones launched his schools in the village in the 18th century.

With classes in reading and writing the idea was copied internationally.

A party was being held as the 10 pupils said goodbye to their teachers for the final time.

The pub closed on New Year's Eve this year and the chapel closed down a couple of weeks ago David Phillips

Griffith Jones, a local rector, was called the "father of popular education" in Wales, with his "circulating schools".

Former pupil David Phillips, now school governor, says Mr Jones' legacy has, in the past, brought coach loads of tourists to the village.

"The idea was to teach everybody, the children of the poor, the farm labourers and so on to read.

"He then sent them to other parishes and they taught other people to read."

But he said a school cannot be kept open simply because of its history.

"When Griffith Jones was alive there were almost 400 people living in Llanddowor. Certainly in my lifetime there have been far fewer than that and less than half that at the moment.

Griffith Jones has been called the father of popular education in Wales

"We had a post office, we had a couple of shops, we had a pub and a chapel. The pub closed on New Year's Eve this year and the chapel closed down a couple of weeks ago.

"Village life seems to have changed quite a lot."

Head teacher Fiona Jones does not think all changes are for the better and disputes claims that such small schools do not offer children enough opportunities.

"I think they get more chances in a small school.

"They get more attention. We all go swimming. There are rugby, netball, guitar lessons. They all take part in everything."

But she said she understood Carmarthenshire Council's reasons for closing the school.

The school follows the post office, pub and chapel in closing

"I don't think there are any young families living in the village - I think more retirement people have come."

As part of their last lessons pupils have been writing thank-you notes to staff and school friends.

The pupills will go to Ysgol Gryffudd Jones in St Clears, or other nearby Church-in-Wales schools when the new term starts in September.

Ten-year-old Holly James said: "I have been at this school for six years and it has been lots of fun.