CAMPAIGNERS fighting to save a Gwent primary school from closure say a move by governors to make it a faith school could safeguard its future. Ponthir Primary School is earmarked for closure by Torfaen council, along with Pentwyn and Brookfield primaries.

Education chiefs say action is needed to solve the problem of surplus primary school places in the borough, which they claim will reach one in four by 2008.

Now Ponthir's governors have applied to change the school's status to voluntary aided and hand control over to the Church in Wales.

The school is currently voluntary controlled, which means the local authority has the largest input in its running.

Vice-chairman of the governors Howard Thompson said: "We have the support of the church in going ahead with this, but it's not a done deal, as we have to go through a consultation process with parishioners and Torfaen council, as well as the church and National Assembly.

"Jane Davidson will make the final decision."

Torfaen council takes the final vote on whether to close Ponthir, along with Pentwyn and Brookfield primaries, on June 8.

Mr Thompson added: "The main reason for going ahead with voluntary aided status is to look after the long-term future of the school."

He said a green light for voluntary status could reflect positively on the school if Torfaen votes to close Ponthir on June 8, and the matter goes to Jane Davidson for a final decision.

Ponthir resident Lynn Grant, who is campaigning to keep the school open, said the development would offer parents in Torfaen more choice.

"At the moment the LEA has estimated it needs to spend £190,000 on the upkeep of Ponthir over the next five years," she said."If the school becomes voluntary aided, the church and National Assembly would pay for 85 per cent of the capital expenditure, which means the council's outlay would be around £30,000.

"There are currently only two Church in Wales primary schools in Torfaen - one is due to merge, the other is over-subscribed.

"If the church is in favour of taking the school on it could help our cause with the Assembly."

A Torfaen council spokesperson said Ponthir's governing body was free to make the application and confirmed that the LEA would comment on it as part of the consultation.

He added: "It is unlikely in the LEA's view that the minister is likely to determine a change in status in advance of determining the current closure proposal."

Cabinet members meet on June 8 to discuss the closure plans and the final decision will be taken later that day at an extraordinary council meeting.

Park Street Infants School, Abergavenny, attempted to become a voluntary aided church school in 2003 in a bid to save it from closure, but the move failed.