School closure 'disappoints' MP

Pupils have protested against the plans to merge the schools

A Stoke-on-Trent MP has said he was disappointed when he heard that one of the secondary schools in his constituency is to be closed.

Parents and teachers at Trentham High School have fought plans to merge it with Blurton High School.

It is part of plans that will see nine high schools shut or merge in the city.

Stoke South MP Rob Flello said he had failed to convince the education officials they had got their estimates on future pupil numbers wrong.

The city's education service is currently run by the private company Serco.

Phased closure

It has said eight schools - St Peter's, Mitchell, Berry Hill, James Brindley, Edensor, Trentham, Blurton and Brownhills - will merge into five academies.

Longton High School will also be shut in phases with plans for pupils to go to Sandon High School.

Mr Flello said: "We have maintained all along that the numbers are wrong, that there's capacity for a school to serve the Trentham area and indeed attract pupils into the city in that area.

"So I'm disappointed."

The changes are expected to take place between 2009 and 2014.