I WAS horrified but not surprised to read of the proposed merger of Longsight and Christ's Church schools in Harwood.

As an ex-governor (and pupil) of Longsight School, I am of course aware that this is not the first attempt to close the school or merge it.

In fact, the proposal for a merger some years ago was actively opposed by the Church of England -- so what has changed their minds?

Moreover, as two other schools are much closer geographically to Christ's Church, why ask parents to move their children further down Harwood.

Those children then will have further to walk, down and up a long hill, about half a mile each way. Think of this in the awful winter weather, especially if pushing a pram with smaller children and babies.

Furthermore, as Longsight School is still in "special measures", why give it the extra burden of integrating more children -- it beggars belief.

Incidentally, it is interesting to note that Longsight has obtained better SATs results than Christ's Church, so why "special measures". Surely results speak for themselves.

I also wonder how long discussions of the merger have gone on with the Church of England, and why were the governors and headteacher of Longsight not involved in them from the beginning of the process?

Nothing about this merger makes any sense, and I for one totally oppose it, as do the governors, teachers, parents and children.

If Christ's Church needs to move, move it to Harwood Meadows -- that does make sense.

Joan Bradley

Old Nursery Fold

Harwood