PARENTS concerned that the proposed merger of two schools could leave them with no other choice of secondary school within 20 miles, have delivered a petition to education bosses.

Members of the Fight to Save Eskdale School today (Monday, February 8) handed in a petition containing more than 4,900 signatures at County Hall in Northallerton.

They are concerned at proposals to merge two schools in Whitby, which leaves the next nearest secondary schools in Pickering, Scarborough or Middlesbrough, approximately 21 miles away.

Eskdale had planned to expand from being a middle school to becoming an 11 to 16 school, meaning the town would have two secondary schools.

But under the county council proposals, the local authority will cease to maintain Eskdale School and increase the size of Caedmon College as a single campus on two sites.

Today, about 20 members of the protest group travelled by coach to Northallerton, to present the petition in person. In a statement, the group said: “We are a campaign group consisting of concerned parents, ex-pupils and members of the local community trying to stop this from happening.

“We are fighting for the children of Whitby to have a choice. Indeed, choice ranks high on the political agendas of governments around the world and to have none with regard to secondary education is disastrous.”

The group say Eskdale has a unique ethos and positive, caring school community and the loss of the school site would also mean a wider loss to the community, who use the school for activities such as football and tennis.

North Yorkshire County Council’s executive member for schools, County Councillor Arthur Barker, will decide tomorrow (Tuesday, February 9) whether to begin a consultation over the proposals. If he opts for a consultation, it will begin later this month (February).

The council says since September 2015 both schools have effectively shared a catchment area and both face financial challenges and challenges around maintaining and improving the quality of education.

“We have been talking to the two secondary schools in Whitby for some time about the benefits of a single 11-19 offer for the town,” said Pete Dwyer, North Yorkshire’s corporate director for the Children and Young People’s Service.

“For many reasons this seems like the right step to take. We want the young people of Whitby to have the greatest choices in their future lives in what is a rapidly changing and challenging world and this development would help us to provide the resources to create the best in teaching and learning.”