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Coseley School closure: Parents of Dormston School pupils 'disgusted' at plans to take extra children

Parents at a Black Country school have launched a petition in opposition to controversial council plans to increase pupil numbers by more than 200.

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Parents of pupils at Sedgley's Dormston School are 'disgusted' with how Dudley Council has tried to make children move from Coseley School to Dormston with fears it will put huge pressure on teaching staff.

They aired their views at a meeting at the school on Friday night where more than 100 parents turned out, alongside Sedgley councillors Michael Evans and Tina Westwood and school governors. The school already has around 1,000 pupils on its roll.

Councillor Evans, who is on the board of governors at Dormston, said: "The parents were disgusted with Dudley Council's Children's Services with how they have addressed this situation.

"The parents felt because Dormston had gone through a very hard period and now was moving in the right direction, this dictatorship from Dudley Council would greatly affect the facilities in the school.

"What they couldn't understand was why did Dudley Council's Children's Services send out letters to parents of pupils of Coseley School, saying that their children's place at Dormston School would be reconsidered, without the full consultation of parents of Dormston School."

Coseley School's future was thrown into doubt in January when council bosses launched a consultation about its possible closure. But Councillor Evans feels a decision had already been made been behind closed doors.

However council bosses said the authority had received requests from parents from Coseley School to move pupils.

Last week Tony Oakman, strategic director for the people directorate at Dudley Council, said: "We have been working closely with parents and head teachers on this issue. Every school has a previously agreed capacity level and Dormston has not reached theirs."

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