Parent governor Mandy Jackson believes �250,000 can be raised

The city council proposes to close Stanstead Primary School in Rise Park after claiming there were too many spare places at schools in the area.

It said the value of the site was �250,000 - and now parents plan to raise the cash to keep it open.

School parent-governor Mandy Jackson said: "We have had considerable enquires from businesses that are willing to give us donations."

The council plans to close a series of schools and enlarge other sites in the city because of falling pupil numbers.

Land value

But Ms Jackson said: "At the end of the day �250,000 isn't a lot of money.

"We will do our best and hopefully we will get there.

"Initially when we had the first meeting with the LEA, somebody said, when they said the land value was �250,000, well, we'll buy it.

"What started as a pipedream will hopefully turn out to be reality."

Rachael Thompson, of the Stanstead Action Group, said: "This school, we believe, has a viable future.

"We have worked really hard to get this school up to the point where everybody is equal and kids like coming here."

Council chiefs said the plans would cause chaos in the area and lead to overprovision of places.