ANGRY pupils are joining the fight to save a closure-threatened school in Pontypool.
This Friday, hundreds of Trevethin school youngsters will take to the streets of the town with parents to protest at the planned closure.
Torfaen councillors have voted to close Trevethin Community School, blaming a fall in pupils numbers to 400 for its decline.
Friday's march is expected to bring Pontypool to a standstill. Today the editor of the school newspaper, 15-year-old Ryan Miller, hits back over Torfaen councillor John Turner's claims that the school is not in the heart of its community and is not providing a suitable education.
Year 11 pupil Ryan, who edits the Pupil's Voice paper, said: "Councillor Turner's comments are outrageous and controversial. The vast majority of children are educated well at this school. As a pupil in Trevethin I think we are learning more in our smaller class sizes."
Ryan, of Upland Drive, Trevethin, said the closure was the talk of the school.
"Everyone is anxious because we don't know what's going to happen," he said. "Hardly anyone wants it to close."
On the comments that the school is not in the heart of the community, Ryan said: "Trevethin Community school may not be at the heart of Trevethin, but it is in the hearts of everyone in Trevethin, St Cadoc's and Penygarn. There is no need to send pupils to West Mon or Abersychan schools when there is a perfectly capable school with good staff and adequate facilities on our doorstep."
Arthur Attwood, chairman of Communities Acting Together, the group set up to fight the closure, said: "We are very pleased that pupils are starting to speak out. It's not just the adults who are shouting, but the children as well. The pupils of Trevethin want to make their feelings heard and this young man has made some very mature comments."
Councillor Turner, executive member for education, said he recognised that pupils have their part to play in the debate over the closure.
"Pupils are entitled to take a stance and I appreciate that they have feelings for the school and concerns about the closure," he said. "If they feel strongly about the issue they can join the march on Friday."
The march will begin at Trevethin school at 3.30pm and proceed to Pontypool Civic Centre.
Torfaen council education officials have promised to meet a small delegation of protestors to discuss their concerns.
* A public meeting is being held at Trevethin school tonight at 6.30pm to rally support for the march.
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