THE news of £4 million in a lump sum for a new primary school in Abergavenny is being celebrated by Monmouthshire county council.

The Argus revealed yesterday that the new school, to be built on the Llwynu Infants School site, was at the heart of the council's education review.

The proposal would see a 420-pupil primary school with nursery provision at a school which currently has 145 pupils on roll.

The council proposes closing up to 11 schools and creating all-through primary schools to meet government controls on class sizes and building quality.

In the council's plans pupils from St David's Junior, Croesonen Infants and Park Street Infants schools would move to the new school when theirs close.

The controversial plans in a £10 million programme are part of the biggest shake-up of the county's education service for many years.

Colin Barnard, a strategic review support officer with Monmouthshire LEA, said: "This means the new building in Abergavenny could move up the timetable from its scheduled completion date of September 2006.

"Without the National Assembly's agreement we would have had to wait for the money to be accrued before work could start."

It is also proposed to alter Harold Road Junior School, which currently has more than 300 pupils, into a 210-place all-through primary school.

Speaking at a meeting of the council's lifelong learning select committee, Adrienne Roden, who has a child at Croesonen Infants School, said the timetable meant her daughter would have to move schools twice.

Malcolm Morris, acting schools' improvement officer, replied: "The timetable is very much a first attempt.

"If there is going to be a scenario where a little one is going to be moved twice, this is something to be taken on board and we can alter the timetable in seconds."

The schools scheduled for possible closure are Clydach Primary School, Croesonen Infants School, Darenfelin Primary School, Green Lane Junior, Caldicot, Llanellen, Llanfair Kilgeddin, Llanfoist and Llanover Primary schools, Park Street Infants and St David's Junior School.

Govilon Primary could be expanded under the plans or it could be closed if a new district school is built in Llanellen or Llanfoist.