PUPILS at a school faced with closure have bombarded the Secretary of State for education with letters demanding the Government reconsider its proposals.

Children at the Vale of Berkeley College have sent passionate letters to education secretary Ed Balls making the case for their school to stay open.

It follows the revelations that Government education expert Graham Badman made a recommendation that the school should close.

He was assessing the school for the National Challenge programme, a government scheme aimed at getting all schools to achieve 30 per cent of pupils gaining five A*-C grades at GCSE by 2010.

However the news was met with anger from staff, parents and pupils at Vale of Berkeley College who, with the Gazette, have launched the Save our School campaign.

The decision on what will happen to the school rests with Gloucestershire County Council, however they must be able to prove to the Government that any plan other than closure would see grades improve and the secretary of state has the power the close a school at any time.

In a letter to Mr Balls, student Cerian Lewis said: "There are such good relationships between us pupils and caring staff, why would you wish to destroy our humble relationships?

"Year 10s are halfway through their GCSEs, this is unjust, uncaring and unfair."

She added: "This school has survived threats before, we are ready to fight for our cause and save our school from this preposterous closure."

Emma Stone wrote to Mr Balls: "Vale of Berkeley is the heart of the community providing not only jobs but a valuable exercise centre.

"If your children were attending Vale of Berkeley College and were happy and settled in the calm environment, how would you be feeling?

She continued: "The school has many special needs students, who have gained familiarity with it. Moving schools would have a catastrophic long-term effect on them."

*Keep signing and sending the Gazette Save our School campaign coupons, these will be presented to the council on January 14 ahead of their meeting to decide the school’s fate in February. Over 2,500 have so far been collected.

You can photocopy the coupon before signing it but names must not be duplicated. Send to the Gazette, Reliance House, Long Street, Dursley, GL11 4LS or drop into the school reception. Drop off points are also in the One Stop Shop, Co-op and Bailey’s in Berkeley, the Sharpness Dock Shop and Newtown Post Office.