Prime Minister urged to act over school closures

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Fri 26th Jun 2009

The Prime Minister has been urged to intervene over proposals by Essex County Council to shut two secondary schools in Colchester.

Town MP Bob Russell alerted Mr Gordon Brown to the closure threat to Thomas Lord Audley and Alderman Blaxill Schools during Prime Minister's Questions.

Liberal Democrat Mr Russell told the House of Commons: "Earlier this month, the Conservatives were humiliated in the local elections in Colchester.

"Will the Prime Minister discuss with his Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families why Essex County Council is ignoring what the Secretary of State promised in the House of Commons in May last year, and is proceeding to close two secondary schools, against the democratic wish of the people of my constituency?"

Responding, Mr Brown urged Mr Russell to pursue matters with the Secretary of State, Mr Ed Balls MP - adding: "I hope that he will be able to meet him soon."

Mr Russell said today: "The fight to save Alderman Blaxill and Thomas Lord Audley Schools is far from over. There is little support for the closures in Colchester; even the town's Tory Councillors disagree with what the Tories at County Hall are doing."

He added: "Raising this matter directly with the Prime Minister will ensure that the battle is discussed at the highest levels of Government. What the Essex Tories are planning is against the wishes of the people of Colchester, and while I obviously welcome investment in education what is being put forward here is an appalling waste of scarce public funding."

In the County Elections on 4th June, the Conservatives won only one seat in the town - by just 19 votes, with the previous majority slashed by 1,000 votes. Four of the six seats were won by the Liberal Democrats, and the fifth by Labour.

Mr Russell backs the view of campaigners trying to save Thomas Lord Audley and Alderman Blaxill Schools which is that they should form a federation with The Stanway School under the Executive Headship of the latter's Mr Jonathan Tippett who is already running all three schools, and has successfully turned round the fortunes of all of them. Colchester Borough Council also supports this suggestion - and it is one which Mr Russell will be urging the Government to back.