PARENTS have hit back at suggestions that a school which is improving year-on-year should close.

They described the idea that Harrop Fold School in Little Hulton should shut as absurd, given the school has only been open since 2001.

They added that the school, the result of a merger between Little Hulton Community School and Walkden’s Joseph Eastham High, had a bright future.

Suggestions that the school should close instead of neighbouring St George’s RC School in Walkden were made by the independent schools adjudicator, Canon Richard Lindley, last week.

Salford Council wanted to close St George’s and build a new school as part of its Building Schools for the Future programme, to reshape secondary education in the borough.

But, as reported in The Bolton News, Canon Lindley went against Salford Council’s wishes to shut the school and instead suggested that children in St George’s RC should be housed in the Harrop Fold School building, effectively signalling the closure of that school.

Education chiefs in Salford have said they will fight to keep Harrop Fold open and they have been backed by parents and staff at the school.

Michelle Dickinson, from Little Hulton, whose daughter, Jade, aged 12, goes to Harrop Fold, said: “Harrop Fold is a good school, my daughter enjoys going there. There is no reason why they can’t keep both schools open.

“They should leave Harrop Fold School as it is.”

Fellow mum Samantha Roberts, whose daughter Hannah, aged 12, attends, added: “It is a new school so it wouldn’t make sense to shut it. It should stay as it is. It is a brilliant school and my daughter loves going.”

Senior leaders at the school expressed surprise that Harrop Fold — named as one of the most improved in the country — had been put forward as a possible solution to keeping St George’s RC open.

Dr Antony Edkins, executive head of Harrop Fold, said: “Not once was Harrop Fold School requested or required to provide evidence to assist the adjudicator in his deliberation.

“To all intents and purposes Harrop Fold School was not included in the process.

“It is, therefore, very surprising that a maintained secular comprehensive school is cited as a possible solution to the future of Roman Catholic education in Salford.”