Campaign to save Colchester schools from closure continues

11.46.20am GMT Tue 26th Jan 2010

Aldermann Blaxill, one of two Secondary Schools in the South of Colchester threatened with closure by Conservative run Essex County Council

Government Ministers are to look into the controversial proposals to shut Colchester's Alderman Blaxill and Thomas Lord Audley secondary schools after Town MP Bob Russell told the House of Commons that claims made by Essex County Council were inaccurate.

He told the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, the Rt Hon Ed Balls MP, that local parent Mr Joe Slatter had produced statistical evidence that showed the County Council's claims of a reduction in the number of children in the town was inaccurate.

And Schools Minister Mr Vernon Coaker MP promised to meet Mr Russell and Mr Slatter to discuss the matter.

Mr Russell said later: "The battle to save Thomas Lord Audley and Alderman Blaxill Schools had a significant boost, a double boost, this afternoon as a result of the two questions which I was able to put directly to Government Ministers on the floor of the House of Commons.

"It is clear from Mr Slatter's statistics that Essex County Council has hopelessly got its projected figures wrong - and thus the whole basis of its case to shut these two schools has been destroyed. I shall be urging the Government to insist that the County Council goes back to the drawing board - and, in the meantime, keep both schools open under the inspirational leadership of Mr Jonathan Tippett whom I praised in the Commons for the wonderful job he has done in turning both these schools round, along with The Stanway School. He is Executive Head of all three schools, and all three have been transformed under him."