THERE was anger and determination in the village of Argoed last night after Caerphilly council's cabinet voted to close the school which is at the heart of the community.

The cabinet voted unanimously for closure, despite an impassioned campaign by villagers and parents to save their school.

The decision will now go directly to education minister Jane Davidson at the Assembly, bypassing the authority's full council meeting.

If Ms Davidson agrees Argoed should close, pupils will transfer to Markham Primary or other local schools in September 2007.

After the meeting parents who had fought to save the school said they were "bitterly disappointed" by the decision.

Parent and governor Frances Thompson said her family would now consider leaving the village. "I am shell-shocked by this. The consultation process was worthless because they haven't taken any notice of what was said.

"I really think they had made their minds up before today's meeting." Argoed councillor Allen Williams and parent and governor Ian Craig pleaded with the cabinet yesterday to keep the school open, stressing its positive Estyn report.

Mr Ian Craig said: "The council has millions to spend on new bridges for Blackwood but nothing to spend on keeping a village alive."

He vowed to continue the fight, saying he would now be writing to Ms Davidson to complain about the consultation process.

Caerphilly council leader Harry Andrews said he "liked the atmosphere" at the school, but said others with available spaces were equally as impressive.

The council's assistant director of education Bleddyn Hopkins said Markham Primary, which has 16 spaces, could convert other rooms into classrooms to take Argoed's 53 school and nursery pupils. He added it would cost an estimated £300,000 to bring Argoed's facilities up to a modern standard.

He also said that the school's small size made it impossible to teach the full range of national curriculum subjects.

The council's director of education and learning, David Hopkins, said he disagreed with claims that Argoed would "die" if the school closed, saying there were "vibrant communities" without schools.

"I think those who support the school dwell on the issues surrounding Argoed, but I have a greater aim, to look at the education of all children across Caerphilly borough," he said.

Closing Argoed Primary will save the council £70,000 annually. l Another school awaits a decision: page 13