School axe under fire

The decision to close a Black Country high school has come under fire from an MP who says that she has been inundated with complaints from parents.

Lynda Waltho, who represents Stourbridge, pointed out that she has received dozens of calls and visits from parents with children at Cradley High School.

Mrs Waltho said that her monthly surgeries were regularly full of worried parents and accused the authority's education department of presiding over a "litany of broken promises and dreams".

Dudley council decided to close the school in Homer Hill in February despite a concerted campaign by parents to keep it open.

It is due to close in August 2008 with pupils in years 10 and 11 completing their education there and younger pupils transferring to other schools later this year.

The school is being closed because of falling pupil numbers which has led to a £500,000 reduction in government funding.

Mrs Waltho accused Dudley Council of breaking promises on teachers staying on at the school until its closure and about grants to buy new school uniforms.

She also said the closure would result in the community "breaking down" and voiced concern about the fate of the leisure centre and surrounding parkland. She added: "Once again my weekend surgery was full of worried parents and I am still dealing with parents, staff and also pupils who are reeling from this decision to close Cradley High School."

"There are reports of houses going up for sale in an attempt to move closer to alternative schools.

"The school has been attacked by vandals and many parents are concerned at the length of travel their children will have to endure in order to get to schools across Dudley. There is a very real chance of the community breaking down.

"It must be hard to reconcile oneself with presiding over this litany of broken promises and broken dreams," she added.

However, Liz Walker, Dudley Council's cabinet member for education said Mrs Waltho's comments were "scurrilous" and "absolute nonsense".

"We have had to make a very difficult decision but we are only complying with legislation and funding limits set out by her government. "No-one likes change and we hope we have handled this as humanely as possible."