School fight faces defeat

Controversial plans to merge two schools in Stourport and build a brand new primary at a cost of £6.6 million have been recommended for approval, the Express & Star can reveal today.Parents with children at Lickhill Primary now look to have failed in their fight to prevent the school from being merged with Stourport Primary and a new site created on the site of axed Lickhill Middle School.

Councillor Jill Fairbrother-Mills, representative for Lickhill, said today it had been an emotive issue. "It is a real split between the head and heart," she said. "My head sees it as an opportunity to create a state-of-the-art school for future generations of youngsters. However, my heart goes out to the parents and staff at Lickhill Primary School who have fought a fantastic campaign to keep the school open."

Worcestershire County Council's cabinet will be asked to approve the merger at a meeting next Thursday.

Stourport Parents Against the Merger (SPAM) bitterly opposed plans to create a new two-formed entry school on the grounds it would reduce choice, lead to larger classes and create a security risk due to a footpath through the site.

Councillors will be recommended to support the proposal to close Lickhill Primary on August 31, 2011, and to expand Stourport Primary School to a two-form entry school from September 1 the same year.

Colin Weeden, the council's head of raising achievement and access to learning, said: "It is acknowledged that many people have a strong attachment to the school their children attend. However, the council has a responsibility to also consider the longer-term position." Teaching and support staff will keep their jobs.