AN Abergavenny rural school yesterday won its fight to stay open - but two other village schools in the area will close.

In the biggest shake-up of primary education ever seen in Monmouthshire, round two of the plans saw the member panel recommend the closure of Clydach, Darenfelin in Llanelly Hill and Llanover primary schools.

But members of the full council voted to keep Llanover open and yesterday the council's cabinet, which makes the ultimate decision, agreed.

Parent Helen Cox, who is vice-chairman of the governing body, said after the meeting: "The parents are delighted that the council has listened and recognised how important the school is to the community.

"We are also pleased that the cabinet will now give the school every support in the future to allow it to develop."

The cabinet also agreed with recommendations from full council to close both Clydach and Darenfelin schools in August 2006 - two years after they won a reprieve after a spirited campaign.

Councillor Peter Fox, the cabinet member for lifelong learning, said it gave him no pleasure to recommend the closure of both schools but they had falling rolls and budget deficits.

Councillor Rob Griffiths asked the cabinet to give both schools a stay of execution to see if they could work together with the schools in neighbouring Gilwern and Govilon.

Councillor Fox replied that both schools had worked on a cluster model for the past two years but, sadly, it had not worked out. He said parents at the public meetings had urged the council to make a decision so their uncertainty was ended.

Suggesting that the cabinet should go along with the council's recommendation to keep open Llanover Primary School - which has 45 pupils - he said: "A huge amount of work has been put in by the action group, parents and staff. While I made an earlier recommendation to close the school I now recommend that we support the council's view to retain the school."

The cabinet agreed that the school should stay open unless there was a drastic change in circumstances, ending parents' uncertainty about the future.

There was also good news for Llanfoist parents - the council has agreed to build a £4.4million 210-place primary school on land at Evesham Nurseries, Llanfoist, to open in September 2007.