The decision to close Chapel Hill Primary School in Braintree has been called in ahead of a meeting with parents tonight.

Emotions have been running high since Essex County Council's cabinet voted last month to close the school by the end of the year.

But the county council's scrutiny committee has now asked to re-examine the decision and could send it back to the executive board for reconsideration.

The select committee will meet on April 17 and hear from Braintree district councillors, parents, governors and staff.

Essex County Council education spokesman Mike Barnett today said: "It's a standard procedure which is taken on all key decisions which result in major changes."

Meanwhile Braintree district councillor Elwyn Bishop, who is also on the governing body of the school, has taken the fight to the top.

Mr Bishop has spoken with education secretary Estelle Morris about Chapel Hill and she has said she will look into the situation.

The news comes as parents prepare to go into battle with education chiefs at a meeting at the school tonight.

The school has been on special measures for two years and a recent inspection said it could not see the school coming off them in the foreseeable future.

If the closure goes ahead the 105 pupils face being transferred to other schools in Braintree.

Published Wednesday, April 10, 2002