A community is calling for a rethink over plans to close a Welsh-medium primary school in Gwynedd.

It comes as Gwynedd Council moves towards the final stages in the process towards closing Ysgol Nebo.

The school was one of two – including Ysgol Baladeulyn, at Nantlle – earmarked for closure due to dwindling numbers.

The proposal to close Ysgo Nebo was met with dismay and objection from locals and a community group including parents, governors and teachers.

They are calling for the decision to be postponed, and want the council to re-consider an option to use the school as an additional learning needs facility.

Earlier this year, Cabinet approved a recommendation to publish a statutory notice over Ysgol Nebo’s closure on 31 December, with pupils provided with places at Ysgol Llanllyfni from 1 January, 2027 onwards.

An ‘objection report’ will be presented to the Cabinet in September.

The Pwyllgor Ardal Nebo a Nasareth community group is calling on Cabinet to reconsider its proposal, saying they are concerned the local authority is “pressing ahead with a decision based on incomplete evidence” and “failing to properly consider viable alternatives”.

They argue the council’s 145-page consultation report “fails to answer the overwhelming concerns raised during the consultation process,” and say it “failed to consider” the option to use the school as an ALN facility.

“More than 70 formal responses and two well-attended public meetings proposed a realistic and much needed alternative: retaining Ysgol Nebo as a specialist nurturing school for children who struggle in mainstream education,” it stated.

“Ysgol Nebo could become an innovative pilot centre providing specialist support for children who struggle in mainstream schools while delivering better educational outcomes and long-term savings for the public purse.

“The community argue this option was never properly evaluated despite the growing demand for ALN provision across Gwynedd.”

It states residents, parents, governors and staff wanted Cabinet members to hold off the decision until a forthcoming ALN strategy is published, and “all reasonable alternatives have been properly assessed and discussed”.

“The community is urging elected members to reject the closure proposal and are asking Welsh Government and local media to scrutinise whether Gwynedd Council has fully complied with all its obligations before taking an irreversible decision,” it said.

“They are not alleging the council acted unlawfully. However, they believe there are significant unanswered questions about whether these public duties have been fully discharged before an irreversible decision is made.”

A council spokesperson said: “Considering the future of any school is a difficult and complex decision, and Cyngor Gwynedd’s priority is to ensure all children across the county have opportunities to develop into well-rounded, happy and confident individuals through the provision of first-class educational and social experiences.

“The next step in the process will be the preparation of an Objection Report, which will include a summary of the objections received together with council’s response to those objections.

“Cabinet will consider the contents of the report with all relevant information before making a final decision on whether to close Ysgol Nebo and provide places for pupils at Ysgol Llanllyfni from January 1, 2027 onwards.”