THIS is a copy of a letter I have sent to Mr Swift, Head of Strategy at the Strategy Division at the Bolton Education and Arts Committee, Mrs Blenkinsop Director of the Education, Cllr Stuart Lever and Education Minister David Blunkett.

" IF your child were a pupil at High Lawn School how would these proposals make you feel? My daughter started at High Lawn School last week and my other daughter starts next year. I feel if these proposals went ahead their one chance of gaining an education in Bolton would be jeopardised.

"Ask yourself: 'Does anybody agree with these proposals apart from the Borough Council and the Education and Arts Committee?' The teachers, parents, governors and children don't, and we are the ones who will have to cope with these changes. There would be so much disruption at High Lawn school with re-organisation of classrooms, offices, toilets and cloakroom facilities, building work, teachers, the whole thing is a practical nightmare. It is difficult enough for the teachers to cope at the moment let alone with all the additional upset.

"I propose that there should be an intake of 25 to 30 pupils at all the Astley Bridge Schools, that is the Oldhams, High Lawn, the Oaks, Sharples, St Paul's and St Anthony's. This would spread the pupils out evenly across the Borough and increase the intake to Oldhams, therefore preventing its closure.

" In the Description of Proposal the objective of the proposal to close Oldhams CP School and increase the capacity at High Lawn CP School is to quote 'RAISE STANDARDS', I must be stupid because I thought standards were already at a high level at High Lawn or am I mistaken. If the problem is at the Oldhams CP School, then why not address this issue instead of lowering standards at High Lawn with all the disruption these proposals would make.

"The Oldhams School was inspected in May this year and was identified as requiring special measures. Was one of these measures to close it down? Have any of these special measures been implemented?

" In the details of pupil numbers it says: 'In the future it is LIKELY that there will be fewer pupils and more spare places in the area.' What about the Sweetloves Estate, in four years time there will be a large influx of children from here wanting to go to High Lawn and the Oldhams Schools? This is a new estate with young parents and families, or did the Education and Arts Committee overlook this.

"These proposals must not go ahead. I will oppose it all the way for the sake of my daughters education. I feel very disappointed in this whole review process."

From a very disheartened angry mother.

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