School leaders prepare to fight closure threat

St Oswald's Church of England Infant and Nursery School, in Durham City, is one of 23 schools that the Labour-run county council could shut in a drive to reduce surplus places.

The council could replace some with new ones built through the Private Finance Initiative, under which groups of companies would lease back the buildings.

A delegation of senior councillors was in London this week, briefing the county's MPs about its £300m plans for the next 15 years, which it calls a blueprint for excellence.

St Oswald's has 22 surplus places at the moment and is expected to get another 19 in the next few years.

But governors, parents and the Durham Diocese Board of Education say many will be filled in the autumn and that extensive house building in the city could see the others filled.

Parent governor Sarah Lawrance said: "We have resolved to fight any attempt to close the school.

"The school has an absolutely brilliant record and to a close it as part of a so-called blueprint for excellence doesn't make any sense.

"We have plenty of evidence to back our position up. The school has Sats results that place it in the top 2.5 per cent of schools in the country, and it has received a School Achievement Award.''

Mrs Lawrance said that the school was good at educating the children of university students and teachers who arrived not speaking English.

Councillor Sue Pitts, the Liberal Democrat leader of Durham City Council and chairman of governors, said: "There is no way on earth that closing a school like St Oswald's can be seen as promoting excellence in education.''

Canon David Whittington, director of the diocesan board of education, said: "The diocese is totally opposed to the closure of this school and will be fighting alongside the parents and governors to ensure its continuation.''

The council has stressed it has no "hit list'' of schools to be closed and has pledged extensive consultation before decisions are taken.