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'Please don't close my school'
A TEARFUL boy stood before a packed public meeting and made an emotional plea to save his school.
Eight-year-old Callum Brown joined more than 100 other youngsters and their parents to protest at the closure threat facing Rossmere Primary School, in Hartlepool. And as tensions ran high, pupil Callum stood up and asked: "If the school closes, where will we go?"
Minister challenged over schools>>
The plea came on the day the Hartlepool Borough Council's Labour Group challenged the Government's Schools Minister Ed Balls to come to Hartlepool and see the quality of teaching standards across the town.
They threw down the gauntlet after Mr Balls branded two of the town's secondary schools, Dyke House and Brierton, "poor performers" in a 20-strong list of shame of secondary schools in the region.
Rossmere Action Group called last night's public meeting at Owton Baptist Church, in Catcote Road, Hartlepool, after distributing 1,000 leaflets in the area.
They are angry their school faces closure as part of the sweeping changes to primary education in the town.
Tearful Rossmere pupil Callum asked: "If the school closes where will we go?
"I don't want to go to Golden Flatts. I want to stay at Rossmere. I don't know if I will make new friends there."
Hartlepool Borough Council is reviewing primary education as part of the Government's Primary Capital Programme (PCP) which could see 50m pumped into transforming education.
It is aimed at removing surplus places, improving maths and English standards and rebuilding and refurbishing.
Options being considered for Rossmere include no change, closure, increasing in size, or pupils transferring to a new school.
School governor and Rossmere councillor Mick Johnson, who chaired the meeting, said: "My opinion is that Rossmere Primary School should remain open on its current site serving the south of the town.
"I am going to fight closure to the death and I expect every person here to do the same."
The meeting heard the council has more than 30m in reserves that could go towards the school.
Janice Ferguson, 53, whose grandchildren go to the school, said: "If the money is there why can't they just use it to improve what we have got? It is our money anyway."
Mum-of-six Carole Cochrane, 40, of Stockton Road, Hartlepool, said: "I don't know how the people who make these decisions can sleep at night."
Teaching assistant Allison Taylor, 41, of Highland Road, Hartlepool, said: "I have worked at Rossmere for 11 years - it is a part of who I am."
Parents also called for Paul Briggs, the council's assistant director of children's services, and Mayor Stuart Drummond to attend at a meeting at Rossmere School on Tuesday, July 15.
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Weather for Hartlepool
Sunday 27 May 2012
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