I THOUGHT that the report in the BEN (Dec 10) about Christ's Church, Harwood, was more than misleading and somewhat confused.

Firstly, Longsight School is not earmarked for closure -- the proposal is that the building is used for a merger and this is still being considered by teachers, governors, parents and the LEA.

Secondly, it seems to me that the whole Ofsted assessments are subjective when the so-called "struggling" Longsight School obtained better SATS results than Christ's Church this year. Surely "the proof of the pudding" etc.

I always felt when I was a governor at Longsight that there was a hidden agenda that the LEA had for the school.

The most sensible solution to the problems would be to merge Christ's Church with Harwood Meadows School, which is on the doorstep. Can the LEA and the press please listen to the local people for once and act accordingly?

Lastly, can I say that the most important players in this scenario are the children and parents, especially the children for whom this process is unsettling and distressing.

I trust that our local councillors will oppose the madness of this proposed merger for Longsight, but I fear that the scene was set some time ago.

Joan Bradley

Old Nursery Fold

Harwood

Bolton