LEIGHTON Andrews unexpectedly resigned from his post as Wales' Education minister tonight.

Mr Andrews stepped down from his position following criticism for backing a campaign to save a school in his constituency which faces closure as a result of his own department's policy to tackle surplus places.

Leighton Andrews who backed the campaign to "Save Pentre Primary School" earlier this month said he was standing up for his constituents, despite his previous warnings to councils across Wales that they must close and amalgamate schools to deal with excess capacity.

However following a lack of support shown to him by First Minister Carwyn Jones in the Senedd this afternon, Mr Andrews handed in his resignation.

In his resignation letter Mr Andrews said: "I regret that my commitment to my constituents may have led me to an apparent conflict which has led to difficulty for your government.

"I therefore feel that I have no option but to offer you my resignation today."

Plaid Cymru shadow education minister Simon Thomas AM said: “The Education Minister’s long-held position on school surplus places has been undermined by his actions and this undermines the Welsh Government as a whole.

“This is the correct decision to take when collective cabinet responsibility has been abdicated and you find yourself arguing against your own policies."

Leader of the Welsh Conservatives Andrew RT Davies AM, said: “After the failure of Carwyn Jones to endorse his Education Minister’s position during my questions to him today, it was inevitable that he had to go.

“The former Education Minister clearly felt that the policies being pursued by the Welsh Government were working to the detriment of his constituents.

"While he chose to say this in his constituency – he clearly felt unable to say it in Cabinet."

Pentre was due to close after a consultation by Rhondda Cynon Taf council (RCT) who found that the school had 64 percent rate of unfilled places, with just 73 pupils.

As a result of a directive from Mr Andrews, the council proposed to deal with these surplus places by amalgamating Pentre with nearby Treorchy primary.

However, the minister had written a detailed objection to the council's plans for Pentre on the grounds that Welsh government guidance had not been properly followed by the Labour-run council.

Mr Andrews defended his actions, by stating that he had intervened acting as a local AM rather than as education minister.

Leighton Andrew's resignation letter in full:

"It has been a great privilege to serve in your Cabinets since your appointment as First Minister in December 2009 as firstly Minister for Children, Education, Lifelong Learning and Skills and subsequently as Minister for Education and Skills, with responsibility since May 2011 for the Welsh Language.

I have also been pleased to have had the opportunity to convene the Yes for Wales campaign on your behalf in 2011 and to contribute to the successful campaign which led to your election victory in May 2011 and to a Labour Government.

I am proud of the steps which we have taken which will strengthen the education system in Wales from schools through to higher education, including our new literacy and numeracy framework, the School Standards Act, the creation of a smaller number of stronger higher education institutions and our new higher education policy, the Welsh Language strategy and the steps we are taking to establish Qualifications Wales as the core of a modern qualifications system for Wales.

As you know, I have and remain a passionate advocate of my Rhondda constituency. I regret that my commitment to my constituents may have led me to an apparent conflict which has led to difficulty for your government. I therefore feel that I have no option but to offer you my resignation today.

Your government will of course have my consistent and continuing support.