PEMBROKESHIRES smallest village school could face closure and the future of 12 others may be reviewed.

Parents of the 21 children at Angle VC School will converge on County Hall tomorrow (Thursday) as education leaders meet to consider its future.

A proposal to review its future has set alarm bells ringing at 12 other village schools.

The county council is obliged by a National Assembly for Wales directive to review the future of primary schools with under 50 children.

Pembrokeshire has 13: Angle, Hayscastle, Puncheston, Wolfs-castle, Mathry, Tredafydd, Cosheston, Loveston, Penally, Blaenffos, Hermon, Coastlands and Llanychllwydog.

Last month, the council voted to close Dinas, which has 24 pupils. Pembrokeshires director of education, Gerson Davies, now wants Angle reviewed.

If it closed, children as young as four would have to be bused eight miles to Hundleton School or ten miles to Orielton.

Parents say this is unacceptable. Their County Councillor John Allen-Mirehouse, who lives in Angle, agrees and says the odds on the school closing are negligible.

The pupil numbers consistently fluctuate between 20 and 30. Although this report has caused alarm and despondency, it is purely a recommendation for review," he says.

Councillor Allen-Mirehouse says schools play a key role in village life and the education they provide is probably superior. If a closure situation does arise I will be fighting to keep Angle School open," he vows.

He met with the schools governing body on Monday and it is understood that parents will converge on County Hall to demonstrate support for the school.

Village publican Julian Hammond of the Hibernia Inn says the village will not allow the school to close.

My son had a brilliant education there. It would be a disaster for the children and the village if they close it," he says.

But Gerson Davies suggests there would be educational and organisational advantages in considering alternative arrangements." He predicts that its teaching staff could soon be halved to one.