Parents march against possible school closure

Parents and pupils have marched to council offices to protest against proposals which could see the closure of their primary school.

Brookvale Primary, in Runcorn, Cheshire, is one of three schools being considered as part of a consultation on possible mergers, federations or closures.

Parent Claire Watts said the school had been "the heart of the community" for 53 years and she would have to leave her job if it closed, because of the difficulty of getting her children to another school.

Halton Borough Council said Runcorn had 1,279 more primary school places than children and the gap was expected to widen, but stressed no decisions had been made.

Parents, pupils and staff walked from Brookvale Primary to the council's offices in Halton Lea despite heavy rain, on Friday.

Watts, who has children at the school, said there was no other local school within walking distance that she wanted them to attend.

"If the school closed down, I would have to leave my job," she said.

"The staff are absolutely amazing, the head teacher's amazing, the community are amazing, the kids are amazing and it is just - it's a home for the kids, not just a school."

Another parent, Ellen Judney, said she had attended Brookvale herself, along with her younger brother, and her children now attend.

She said she does not drive and a closure would mean walking much further to take her children somewhere else.

Six-year-old Reggie, a pupil at Brookvale, said: "All the teachers are kind. I have lots of friends here and I have a big playground."

He added: "I live close to the school, I feel happy at school and I love that my mum works here."

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