Pupils meet minister over schools

A group of Herefordshire pupils have met a government minister to urge him to step in and prevent their schools from being shut.

Last week, Herefordshire Council announced it would be recalling its draft proposals about the mergers to give parents more time to comment.

However, council leaders have said action is still needed because of falling pupil numbers.

The children met schools minister Jim Knight and Hereford MP Paul Keetch.

Population trends

The original plans meant up to 36 primary and four high schools would be merged.

Herefordshire Council has said 12% of its school places were empty and population trends indicated this was likely to increase to more than 20% by 2012.

The meeting comes as government ministers reminded local authorities that, by law, they should not be closing rural schools.

A letter is being drafted to go to all councils across England, amid a lobbying campaign against small school closures.