A computer error in the education department put the cat among the pigeons last week.

Governors, teachers and parents of the Coastlands federation of primary schools, which include Dale, St Ishmaels, Herbrandston and Waterston, were angered when they saw their schools included in a list in the Western Telegraph of 13 schools earmarked for review because of falling numbers.

But director of education, Mr Gerson Davies, explained to the county education committee on Thursday that a computer hard drive error had caused the numbers to slip and the Coastlands roll had been reported as 47 pupils when it should have been 164.

Coastlands is a federated school reviewed by the county council some years ago and the federation seems to be working very well, he said. Fears were compounded by a directive from Welsh Assembly education minister Jane Davidson regarding the closure or amalgamation of small schools with fewer than 50 pupils.

The director said the Western Telegraphs publication of the list had caused consternation and had led to many telephone calls.

The implication of the list was that the county council had a question mark over the future of these schools, but that is not the case, he said. At Angle all that was happening was there was a review, but so far no consultation has taken place. There is no proposal in relation to the other schools listed. Loveston infants is already amalgamated and Blaenffos and Hermon are subject to separate problems which are long standing with the council.

Mr Davies said the Assembly policy draft guidance was subject to consultation before it became guidance and simply made it clear that it was the responsibility of education authorities to look at provision.