More than 100 people gather to protest closure of Alderman Swindell Primary School
More than 100 people attended a demonstration at Alderman Swindell Primary School as part of a campaign to save the school from closure. Photo courtesy of the Save our School. - Credit: Archant
More than 100 people took part in a peaceful demonstration at a Great Yarmouth school as part of a campaign to save it from closure.
More than 100 people attended a demonstration at Alderman Swindell Primary School as part of a campaign to save the school from closure. Photo courtesy of the Save our School. - Credit: Archant
Pupils, parents and members of the community gathered at Alderman Swindell Primary School, in Beresford Road, today (November 26) in a display of unity and defiance.
Organised by the ‘Save our School’ campaign the event was held in opposition of Norfolk County Council’s proposal to merge Alderman Swindell with nearby North Denes Primary School.
The modernisation project, costing £7m, would see a new 420-place building created by 2020.
Sandy Lysaught, of the campaign said: “We have had really quite a big turn out with 150 people taking part to show support.
More than 100 people attended a demonstration at Alderman Swindell Primary School as part of a campaign to save the school from closure. Photo courtesy of the Save our School. - Credit: Archant
“It feels like we have strong backing from the community.”
Organisers originally intended to form a ring of unity by holding hands around the school but fell short of a full circle so completed a march around the grounds instead.
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Mrs Lysaught has three children currently attending the school and hopes the demonstration will show decision makers there is a strong desire to defend it.
She said: “We want to continue to fight the decision to close the school and make people understand that education in Great Yarmouth is important and needs to be protected.
“This is happening all over the country, not just our school and people should come together and support each other.”
“We want the council to work with the community to make these kinds of decisions.”
She added: “None of my children want to move, especially my oldest.
“Next year he will be taking his SATs and moving schools will be upsetting at a time when he needs to focus most.”
Fellow campaigner and parent Sharon Tann also spoke of the importance of the event.
She said: “If the school wasn’t a successful and happy place we wouldn’t all be so attached.
“We are a community not a statistic and we will fight to the end to protect our children.”
Following the demonstration a jumble sale featuring craft and cake stalls was set up to help raise money to launch a legal bid to challenge the school merger consultation.
