A GWENT council moved to quash rumours that another school faces closure in a major reorganisation of its primary education provision.

Head of Kemys Fawr Infants school in Sebastopol, Pontypool, Marion Davies, claims she is getting dozens of enquiries from distressed parents who think the school faces the axe.

Torfaen council consulted on the closure of three primary schools and the amalgamation of a number of others, in a bid to reduce its spiralling number of surplus places.

Rumours about Kemys Fawr circulated in the wake of the council's plans to merge nearby Griffithstown Junior and Infants schools, and create one primary school which was discussed during consultation meetings But Mrs Davies said the local authority did not convince all parents the school will remain untouched.

"A letter was sent out during the consultation, but because it doesn't go into the future of Kemys Fawr, rumours it was to close began circulating," said Mrs Davies.

She added: "Parents have been phoning up and asking about the school's future when they drop off their children.

"In the beginning, the consultation was all about Griffithstown Infants and Junior Schools, but we do feed into that, so people know it concerns us as well."

Pupils currently move on to Griffithstown Junior school from Kemys Fawr. It's understood the same system would continue once the new all-through school is established.

A spokesman for Torfaen council said its letter and consultation clearly stated the cabinet voted to consult on the amalgamation of Griffithstown Infants and Junior Schools.

He added: "Members have not included Kemys Fawr School - the council is not consulting on the closure of Kemys Fawr."

Concerned parent Dawn Evans, who teaches at Kemys Fawr, said she understood why the rumours developed.

She said: "I think because the emphasis is on the council's preference for single all-through primary schools people have been left to wonder about the future of a small 100-pupil school like us."