A COMMUNITY has united to declare its support for a secondary school.

A public meeting was held in Monkwick last night to discuss the future of Thomas Lord Audley School, which is threatened with closure as Essex County Council consults on the future of secondary schooling in the town.

Under its preferred option, County Hall would close TLA and Alderman Blaxill schools, with local children sent to other schools across Colchester.

Residents, including parents of current pupils and many who themselves went to the school, gathered at the Scout centre in Queen Elizabeth Way to register their opposition.

Borough councillor Dave Harris (Lab, Berechurch) issued a rallying call in defence of TLA.

“Local schools are the best for local children, and that’s the message we need to put across to sustain the school on this estate and keep improving it,” he said.

The county council has highlighted falling pupil numbers and concerns about the standard of education TLA offers as the reasons why it wants to close the school.

County councillor Richard Bourne (Lab, Maypole), whose ward includes both TLA and Alderman Blaxill, said a counter proposal is being developed.

TLA, Alderman Blaxill and Stanway schools have been working together over the past year under the headship of Jonathan Tippett.

“The three schools’ governing bodies are responding together to this consultation,” Cllr Bourne said.

“The idea is for these schools to come together formally as a super-school running on three sites, which we believe can be financially viable and deliver the correct standard of education."

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