HUNDREDS of parents turned up to a meeting last night to demand answers to why their children's school could shut.

There were angry scenes at the meeting in Westlea primary school as parents were told the school could close as early as 2007 as part of a Swindon Council plan to tackle falling pupil numbers in West Swindon.

The plans were revealed in a confidential report sent to school governors who decided the news was too important to keep secret.

Speaking at the meeting vice chairman of governors, Mike Adams, said: "We firmly believe that this was too important to remain confidential. We are talking about our children's futures here.

"Westlea is at the heart of the community. It's the focal point for the area. It's a marvellous place for children to play in and it's a successful school which is excellently led with first class staff."

There are a number of options under Swindon Council's proposals for the future of Westlea.

l Option one is to do nothing.

l Option two is to remove empty places from the school by reducing it to a school of 210 places instead of 351 there are currently 337 pupils and it is predicted that this will drop to 259 by 2009.

l Option three is to close the school.

l Option four is to rebuild Toothill School and close either Oliver Tomkins or Westlea, sending pupils to Toothill instead.

The school governors are angry about the speed with which the council's plans have been announced and the short time they were given to respond to them the governors were emailed on November 26 and asked for a response within three days.

Mr Adams believes that one way of reducing surplus places at the school would be to get rid of the mobile classrooms on the site.

"If they were removed that sorts out our numbers problem. We would be full we are a popular school there is no doubt about that."

Kate Reynolds, assistant director of planning and resources at Swindon Council education department, received an angry reception from parents. She revealed that the school would shut by 2007 if the council decided to close it and that doing so could be the only way to stop losing money through empty places.

"Maintaining a third of empty places in schools may be taking money away from your child's education. Schools that have declining roles find it very difficult to recruit teachers," she said.

"Staff have to be made redundant and the school ceases to be viable."

But she added that no decision would be made until a full public consultation had taken place.

Work on the report will start on January 13 and will be presented at an Education Partnership Board meeting on January 20. On March 2 Swindon Council's cabinet will decide whether it should go to consultation.

If so, a final decision will be made between September and December this year.

Other schools affected by the proposed reorganisation are Shaw Ridge, Salt Way, Freshbrook and Windmill Hill.

Diana Milne