I AM submitting this letter to the Star, our local newspaper, to see if we can get support in our campaign not to close Parr Community High School in August, 2002.

The system the council are thinking of using is to transfer the children to Sutton High and Haydock High but unfortunately these schools do not have enough places to accommodate this influx of Parr pupils, so they will be sharing temporary accommodation until larger premises can be built.

The LEA state that they do not have enough money to bring Parr High up to standard, but that they have enough money to enlarge existing schools! So why close the school in the first place?

Are the parents, teachers, pupils and governors at these schools happy to take Parr pupils into their schools when class sizes are going to be larger? Are they going to get the same standard of education on a one-to-one basis for any special needs they might have -- plus, is there going to be any settling in problems, for example taunting, bullying, etc.?

Teachers at these schools will be spending time introducing Parr pupils to their own curriculum, which is bound to be different, and this could bring further problems and resentment from existing pupils.

If Parr High closes, what is going to happen to the community, for example, pensioners' groups who meet at the school, where are they going to go?

St Helens Council are demolishing property in the area, so what will happen when new housing is built? Will people want to move into an area where there is no high school or indeed any other amenities? Parr High School is the nucleus of the district.

This council states that they are a 'caring council'. They certainly are not caring for the people of Parr. Maybe it's the cost and not the community they're caring for!

Incidentally, none of our MPs have attended any of the meetings included in the consultation process -- perhaps we can all remember this when it's time for the local elections!

If any of your readers feel that they can help the school in any way regarding ideas and support, we would like to show this council and education department that we will not lie down.

Please help us to Save Our School.

Mr K. Ellis (address supplied).