St MARY'S RC PRIMARY SCHOOL, HASLINGDEN

Early day motion 319, tabled 14 June 2005 by Greg Pope (Labour). Signed by 27 members.

That this House welcomes the review of primary school provision in Rossendale being carried out by Lancashire County Council and accepts that any responsible education authority needs to reduce surplus places; further welcomes the assurances by Lancashire County Council that no final decision has yet been taken; congratulates St Mary's Roman Catholic Primary School in Haslingden for being recognised as one of the most improved primary schools in the country by the Department for Education and Skills; notes with concern that St Mary's is the only Roman Catholic school singled out for proposed closure in the review and that there are insufficient places in nearby Roman Catholic schools to accommodate St Mary's Roman Catholic pupils if it closes; recognises the unique history of St Mary's and the affection with which it is held in Haslingden; and calls upon Lancashire County Council and the Roman Catholic Diocese of Salford to withdraw the closure proposal and look at more imaginative ways of solving the problem.

Signatures by party: Labour 25, Conservative 2.