A DETAILED vision for the future of closure-threatened Pensnett High School, which was compiled by parents and school representatives before consultation began, was “hidden away, never to see the light of day”, claims the ward councillor.

More than 100 angry parents, residents and school staff attended a public consultation meeting at the Tiled House Lane school on Monday evening to get answers about the council’s proposal to shut it.

Parents demanded answers from the director of children’s services Mark Wyatt and cabinet member for children’s services, Councillor Liz Walker but were left frustrated by the lack of them.

One exasperated parent said: “Why can’t we seem to get a straight answer from anyone about anything. Don’t hold a meeting until you know the answers.”

Concerns raised included why children were being disrupted in the middle of their education, where the youngsters would be offered places and what was set to happen to the building once the school was closed.

Parents also expressed fears about letting their children travel miles to school, while others said all the schools in the vicinity were already oversubscribed.

But Mrs Walker told them: “As long as these children apply themselves, then they will do well wherever they go.”

But parents were left appalled when chairman of governors David Sheldon and ward councillor Judy Foster informed the meeting that a document containing an alternative plan of action devised by school representatives – and handed in before consultation began – was never made public by the council.

And Mr Sheldon said the only way he was able to get a copy of the document was through a Freedom of Information request.

Pensnett Community Education Stakeholder Group put together the plan, which urges consideration for a vision which would be “viable, sustainable and most importantly, make a positive impact on educational standards and outcomes”.

The document urges the council to “facilitate this before reaching any final conclusion on the future of the school” and claims there are sufficient numbers in the primary schools in Pensnett for the foreseeable future to maintain a smaller school unit.

Mr Sheldon said: “I had to use Freedom of Information to get these documents.

“We needed 33 children to balance this school. If you weren’t constantly telling us this school was closing, then we would have those 33 children instead of the 30 we had start this year.”

Speaking to the News after the meeting, Mrs Foster, said: “I think this is appalling that the school chairman of governors had to use a Freedom of Information request to get this information.

“This document was presented to the council before consultation began. It was considered by them in an options appraisal but has never appeared in any shape or form since.

“It would have never seen the light of day if Mr Sheldon had not of obtained it.”

Parents called on education bosses to use the points and ideas raised in the document to be made an official part of the consultation report.