SCHOOLS which could be facing closure will be putting their strategy for survival to education chiefs this week.

Headteachers, governors, parents and children in Wear Valley have been preparing what they feel is a convincing case for their schools to stay open.

Pupils from Eldon Lane Primary School, near Bishop Auckland, have written to Durham County Council education director Keith Mitchell asking him not to close their school.

Year six pupils at the school have also prepared a Power Point presentation to get their message across.

Durham County Council has set a deadline of the end of July for responses to proposals which could see up to 23 named schools closing and dozens merging over the next ten to 15 years.

Headteacher at Peases West School, in Billy Row, Judith Stirk, said that she had already prepared her school's case for staying open after receiving comments from parents.

She said: "The parents have had three meetings. Interested parties formed a working party to collate ideas from parents and the community on a way forward.

"There are lots and lots of reasons for the school to stay open. We have had a lot of letters of support from different agencies.''

Government Chief Whip and MP North-West Durham Hilary Armstrong has visited affected primary schools in her constituency and met Durham County Council representatives.

She said: "I agree that there is a need to deal with surplus places, but there are other solutions than closure.

"Some of the schools are working really hard to overcome real social problems and they are doing very well.

"In some places they are the only real centre a community has. They can be the heart of a village and we don't want to lose that.

"It may be that there could be different solutions for towns and rural areas."

A spokesman for Durham County Council said that although schools would be submitting their replies by the end of term, parents had until the end of July to express their opinions.