CAMPAIGNERS fighting to keep a secondary school in their community have branded plans to expand a comprehensive as a deliberate attempt to "thwart" their efforts.

The Sentinel revealed last week how a planning application has been submitted to increase Birches Head High's capacity from 828 places to 1,050 as part of a £3.1million package of building improvements. The school, pictured, has already benefited from £9.5 million investment to bring it on to one site and upgrade facilities.

The expansion ties in with proposals to shut Mitchell Business and Enterprise College, in Bucknall, and Edensor Technology College, in Longton, and replace them with an academy in the Adderley Green or Park Hall area.

Officers at Stoke-on-Trent City Council believe some families in Mitchell's catchment area will choose Birches Head in future.

But the Community School Action Group is campaigning to keep a school on the Mitchell site.

Group chairman Margaret Lowe said: "The spending of yet another £3 million on Birches Head High School is a deliberate ploy by the city council to ensure that there is no money to refurbish Mitchell."

Berry Hill and Hanley East councillor Adrian Knapper has also attacked the expansion. He said: "It is totally wrong of the education authority to move forward with this plan without going out to consultation."

The latest admission figures show 139 families put Birches Head as their first choice school for this September. All 150 places there have been filled.

Mitchell attracted 130 first preferences – a big rise on last year – and 135 pupils have been offered places at the school.

But the area's other secondary school, Berry Hill High, which is due to shut to make way for a different academy in Fenton, attracted just 56 first preferences and will admit 70 pupils in September.

Mitchell closure could spell end for traders: Page 25