SMALL hands tightly clutch more than 160 yellow and green helium-filled balloons as the children band together on Ysgol y Ponciau's netball courts, waiting for the signal to release them.

Tearful parents, grandparents and great grandparents, many of them former pupils and members of staff, join in the occasion.

With everyone shouting the countdown from 10, the balloons are set free and race skyward. A hush descends over the crowd as the balloons become ever smaller.

Schools are often the heart and soul of a community and in Ponciau it could not be more true.

Built in 1900, this school has weathered more than a century of nature's storms and man's handiwork, both good and bad.

From the days of horses and carts, the coming of the railway and motorised cars, nearby air raids during World War II and mining booms and disasters, it has stood the test of time.

However it is now the end of the line for Ysgol y Ponciau. A new school has been built, Maes y Mynydd, which lies just five minutes away and will take most of the 160 pupils from the old school.

What is to become of the popular school? Paul Pemberton, the local councillor for Ponciau, explains that outline planning permission has been granted for housing on the school site, but he is not certain when the school will be demolished.

Cllr Pemberton says: "Everybody had a lump in their throats when it was closing.

"It's been one of the best schools in the area and people seem to have bonded with Ysgol y Ponciau more than any other school.

"There's been a special bond with the school, the parents and the children and although it's a shame that it's come to this, in a couple of years I am sure everybody will be more than happy with the way things have moved forward."

He says he is sure all the fears the children and the parents may have with the new facility will be outweighed and describes the new facility as "absolutely awesome".

"I think the children of the area do deserve a better environment than the old school. It was very old and tired," says Cllr Pemberton.

"The new facility is something that I think everybody in the village will be proud of."

The new school will be an amalgamation of Ysgol y Rhos, Ysgol y Wern and Ysgol y Ponciau and will cater for children from three to 11-years-old.

Deputy headteacher Heulwen Burke, who has been at Ysgol y Ponciau for the last two years, says she has thoroughly enjoyed her experience at the school and feels there is real passion in the community for it.

She said: "I will miss the pupils, parents and the very supportive staff and I wish them all well at the new school, Maes y Mynydd."

Tania Williams, school secretary and a parent with children at Ysgol y Ponciau, says: "We have lots of happy memories of Ysgol y Ponciau from the parents' point of view and the school's point of view."

As she looks around at all the parents, grandparents and great grandparents who have shown up to say their final farewell, Tania says with tears in her eyes: "It's so moving; it's heart-wrenching.

"It's really the end of an era and we look forward to a happy future at Maes y Mynydd."

She gives her thanks to the governors for their support and dedication throughout the years they have spent at the school.

Teacher governor Sarah Tomlinson says: "We have been a very proactive governing body over the last few years – very dedicated and hard working and always focused on doing what's best for the children.

"It's been a privilege to work here as it's a very happy, close-knit school.

"I will treasure lots of memories and I am very sad to see it close," says Sarah.

Carys Price-Rawlings, teacher and former pupil at the school, said: "I am very sad it is closing. I have spent a lot of my time here
throughout the years. My mum was deputy headteacher here for many years and I was a pupil here at the same time.

"I remember being in the nursery when we used to have green camp beds and glass milk bottles and a sleep in the afternoon.

"The school holds a lot of memories. I will be very sad to see it go."
Carys says many of the teachers, including herself, will be moving to
the new school.

"Some teachers, however, are retiring, while others are moving to other schools.

Former pupil Lorraine Baker, who has three children at the school, says: "I have the fondest memories of the school – the happy times we have all had – and it's lovely seeing your children coming to the school you came to but it's nice to see them going to a nice new local school which is only five minutes from here."

Ursula Hughes says her husband, his mother, as well as Ursula's children and grandchildren all attended the school.

"It was the eye of the community. I have got six grandchildren who have gone through the school and they are all here today. I think it's a sad time, to say goodbye to the school.

"It's been like family – a home from home. It's sad," Ursula says,
choking up a little.

"It's been a very happy school and it's been a pleasure for the children to come here. We are all like one big family."

Marian Ellis, whose husband, father-in-law and mother-in-law went to the school, as well as Marian's two grandchildren, is rather more uncompromising.

"It's a disaster, closing the school," sshe says. "Everybody knows everybody."

Pupil Lewis Griffiths, 10, says: "I feel sad about going to a new school because this is one of the best schools I have ever been to and I have been to a couple of schools."

Lewis says his good friends will be going to the new school with him.

Fellow pupil Bethan Page, nine, who is moving to the new school, says she feels sad and unhappy "because Ysgol y Ponciau is going to be knocked-down and we will never see it again". Bethan has been going to the school since she was in nursery. "I have enjoyed the school very, very much," she says, smiling.

Many school stories abound, such as how a large mining shaft was once discovered under a classroom floor, requiring the temporary closure and relocation of the school.

And what about the gas mask drills carried out every day during the last war?

Then there was the time two pupils were accidentally locked in a classroom after the old latch got stuck and the fire brigade had to rescue them. Not to mention all the fun days, charity days and school excursions.

Last week the school held an open day, commemorating the life and times of Ysgol y Ponciau.

Deputy headteacher Heulwen Burke says it was a huge success, with about 400 people including former and present headteachers, staff, governors and pupils taking part in celebrating the school's history.

Mrs Burke recalls: "There was an air of excitement, emotion and nostalgia as friends met together to share their school memories."

She sums up the school's closing when she says: "It's time to say a fond farewell to a school that holds such special memories.

"The building itself may not be here for much longer, but we will keep Ysgol y Ponciau close to our hearts for many years to come."

As staff and pupils crowd around singing "now it's time to say goodbye to our friends...", families slowly make their way to the school gates for the very last time.

The final person to leave will lock the gates and the school will rest after 108 years of unstinting loyal service.

The ensuing eerie silence of the empty classrooms and playgrounds will only be broken when the demolition lorries thunder through the gates, some time in the future.

* Video and DVD production company Screen Icon is producing a DVD for the school, looking back at its history and featuring interviews with former pupils and teachers.

The DVD will be available from early August. Screen Icon is still looking for people to interview about their memories of the school and they are asked to contact Michael Roberts on 01978 366060.