Senior Ceredigion councillors are expected to hear a proposal on potential education changes in the county in just two months’ time, following fears that up to seven rural schools in the county could potentially close.

Cash-strapped Ceredigion County Council set its annual budget earlier this year, with an 11.1 per cent council tax rise and a long list of financial savings across the board, totalling £5.793m.

While the council has not said which schools in the county are under potential threat, a Rhos Helyg Action Group has been set up, after fears the local school may close.

The group says: “A community without a school is like a garden without flowers, lacking its vibrant heart and future growth,” adding: “Ceredigion Council are currently in talks that may result in the closure of seven rural schools. Rhos Helyg Action Group was formed to make sure our schools stay open.”

It goes on to say any closure would “not only affect pupils and their parents, but also community spirit, local business, property values, and future generations”.

Welsh language campaign group Cymdeithas yr Iaith has called on Ceredigion Council to "work with" the county's rural communities following the concerns.

Jeff Smith, chair of the Ceredigion Region of Cymdeithas yr Iaith, said: "Considering that the collapse of Welsh language communities and rural depopulation are among the main drivers of the challenges facing the Welsh language in Ceredigion, community assets such as rural schools - which are often at the heart of these communities - are more important than ever.

"In any reorganisation plans we ask that the council works with those communities to ensure a flourishing future for them and a thriving Welsh Language.”

A Ceredigion County Council spokesperson said: “As part of the authority's plans to ensure an efficient and sustainable infrastructure for the future we are looking to start the process of reviewing the situation from the point of view of our primary schools.

“The first step will be to present a proposal paper to Cabinet early in July this year which identifies some possibilities for meeting the significant challenges that exist across our services.

“At this point in time, it would be inappropriate for us to name schools / number of schools, possible savings etc until the process has officially started and all the stakeholders have been informed through the correct process.

“This is a time of significant challenges for schools and the council, and we want to work together to ensure that we operate as efficiently as possible.

“We will not make any further comments on this matter and will adhere closely to the Welsh Government's School Organisation Code. All papers related to the Code will be published before Scrutiny and Cabinet meetings in the usual way.”

Ceredigion County Council’s Cabinet meeting is set to take place on July 2.