THE Small Welsh School Fund, organised by Cris Tomos, chairman of the Hermon School campaign, is to join a national campaign to save threatened small schools in Wales.

Cris's organisation, inspired by the battle fought for Hermon School, joins several Welsh organisations, which have united against the closure of small Welsh rural schools. The groups involved are the Campaign for the Protection of Rural Wales (CPRW), Wales YFC, Merched y Wawr, FUW, NFU, WI-Wales, Pre-schools Playgroup Association, Mudiad Ysgolion Miethrin and the Small Welsh School Fund.

Together the groups represent more than 65,000 members throughout Wales. The groups have agreed to create a new organisation called the Association of Small Schools in Wales.

They feel that the closure of rural schools undermines the social fabric within small communities, affecting language and community spirit. More than 200 schools face closure under the current policy.

The association will be producing a national petition to be circulated with a view of reaching a target of 500,000 by autumn 2005.

A fund has been established to raise money to give support and advice to parents and governing bodies of threatened schools.

Cris Tomos said: "There is a clear need for an organisation like this that would have been an invaluable help to the Hermon School's battle through the High Court.

"It brings together large numbers of people prepared to voice their opinions and demand a halt to the closing of rural schools across Wales."

CPRW chair Morlais Owen said: "In some rural areas the local school is the only meeting place and loss of this amenity will impact badly on the language, culture and environment in rural Wales."