SAVED!

Celebrations broke out when the community found out its school would not be closed, after months of campaigning to save it. An independent schools adjudicator announced he was rejecting West Sussex County Council's plans to shut Fishersgate First School in Gardner Road.

Adjudicator Alan Parker said: "I believe a sufficiently strong case for the closure of Fishersgate has not been put forward to overcome the likely impact of its discontinuation on the community."

Parents, teachers and pupils celebrated together in the school's playground. They had campaigned to persuade first a council committee and then Mr Parker that closure would be a mistake.

Parent governor Elaine Ross, who led the tireless campaign, said: "It's fantastic news. We were determined all along to convince them closing the school was the wrong move and it is brilliant our voice has been heard."

Sally Willson, chairman of governors, said: "This is a victory for parental power and the winners are the children, who can continue to be educated at Fishersgate First School."

She said the school would work with the county council and other authorities to try to find the best solution for schooling in the area.

The council had proposed amalgamating Fishersgate with nearby Manor Hall First School at its site in Manor Hall Road, Southwick. Parents were concerned about losing one of their few community facilities and staff were worried they would lose their jobs.

Mr Parker ruled against those changes and now the county council will have to enter a new process of consultation on the future of the two schools.

It will also consider the role of Manor Hall Middle School, Manor Hall Road, Southwick, which it initially proposed to become a primary, then a junior school.

The changes were planned as part of a review of schools in the Adur area, to bring them into line with national age-grouping patterns where pupils start secondary school at 11 rather than the current age of 12.

East Worthing and Shoreham MP Tim Loughton, who campaigned to keep Fishersgate open, said: "This is a great triumph for people power and an important one, with Fishersgate getting a fair deal in the local community.

"The staff, governors and parents at the school have conducted a fantastic and effective campaign and the passion of their argument has clearly weighed heavily on the adjudicator. I pay tribute to them all.

"It is now essential that the county council sits down with the school and everybody with an interest in Fishersgate to see how best we can make the school a much better resourced and supported part of the community for the future. I look forward to being part of this process."

West Sussex county councillor Mark Dunn, responsible for schools, said he was disappointed the adjudicator had not supported the council's proposals.

He said: "We note his comments and will work with the three schools to arrive at a mutually satisfactory solution to ensure the children and young people in this area can benefit from the changes already approved for the rest of Adur."