More school closures are on the way in Swansea.Councillors say it is the only way to deal with a big drop in pupil numbers.
There are more than 5,000 spare places in the county already. The figure will have risen to 6,000 by 2009.
The drop in pupil numbers means less cash for schools, and councillors have warned that parents must now brace themselves for closures.
The move is likely to lead to an outcry wherever the axe falls. But it now appears inevitable.
Councillor John Miles, chairman of the authority's education scrutiny board, told a meeting yesterday: "It is not going to be an easy task, but it is something that has to be done.
"Whoever is in power will have to deal with this.
"Pupils are suffering because the schools are getting smaller and there is not enough money for the full curriculum to be delivered."
There was an outcry in the city when proposals to merge Dylan Thomas and Bishop Gore Schools were announced in 2005.
That move would have seen Dylan Thomas school close, with pupils being transferred to an improved Bishop Gore site.
However, the idea was eventually dropped after angry parents lobbied councillors.
Governor of Dylan Thomas Dereck Roberts said: "I do not think closures are necessarily the way forward."They need to look at the other possible options.
"There are huge expenses involved with closures."
Other schools in the county have already been closed because of falling numbers.
Garnswllt School in the Amman Valley closed its doors for the final time in July, after 130 years, because there were so few pupils.
Councillor Miles said parents needed to understand that changes across the city were necessary.
"If we look at one school or a small group of schools then people will feel targeted," he said."We need to make it clear to all the people in the county that there's a problem in education.
"The reality is that we have far too many schools and they are under-occupied. We all have to face up to that fact.
"It is going to take two to three years before we start moving with it, and we need to publicise that we have a major issue."
Any closures will need to be balanced by huge improvements to existing schools or even newly-built replacements, according to the committee.
Councillor Richard Lewis said residents needed to be made aware of the problems, and said the long-term benefits would outweigh short-term fears.
"The medicine may not be popular or palatable now."People will be marching down the streets with banners and placards saying don't close my school,'' he added.
"People have to know that schools will close, but at the end of the day the standard of education in Swansea will go up."
Cabinet member for education Councillor Mike Day said he would consider the recommendations from the committee when they were delivered in April.
He added: "I am pleased the scrutiny board is looking at this issue, which affects not only Swansea but all other areas.
"What is clear is that some action will be needed to tackle surplus places and the condition of school buildings."
