PARENTS have launched a campaign against proposals to close a school which would leave a North Yorkshire town with just one offering secondary education.

North Yorkshire County Council is looking at whether to merge Eskdale School on the east side of Whitby with Caedmon College, situated across the River Esk.

Eskdale School is North Yorkshire’s last remaining middle school, offering education for pupils aged 11 to 14.

But the possible merger has angered many parents, who have set up a protest group, Fight to Save Eskdale School on Facebook. An epetition has also been launched by a 19-year-old former pupil of the school, which has been signed by 2,500 people since it was launched on Friday (January 15).

Caedmon College was formerly known as Caedmon School and took on pupils from the age of 14. But in September 2014 it merged with Whitby Community College and began offering education for 11 to 19-year-olds.

North Yorkshire County Council is considering whether to move ahead with proposals to amalgamate Eskdale School and Caedmon College.

One parent, who has children at the school and does not wish to be named, said the move would leave parents in Whitby with little choice about where to send their children to school, with the nearest alternative schools approximately 21 miles away.

She said many parents had supported the idea of extending Eskdale’s intake to include 11 to 16-year-olds, instead of it remaining a middle school.

“Eskdale is a small, friendly school with a really lovely, unique ethos,” she said.

“But it’s not a battle between two schools; I’m extremely concerned that people won’t have a choice about where their children are educated.

“In Whitby we’re geographically placed so we’re 21 miles from the next nearest schools in Pickering, Middlesbrough or Scarborough. So if a parent wants to change schools for whatever reason, or they want a different option of GCSEs they don’t get a choice.

“Different children have different needs; I have three children but that doesn’t mean they have the same needs or suit the same school.”

On February 9, North Yorkshire County Council’s executive member for schools, Arthur Barker, will make a decision on whether there should be a public consultation on the proposals to merge schools.

Both schools are supporting holding a consultation on the merger.

Parents fear that in the event of a merger, the Eskdale School site would close.

Pete Dwyer, North Yorkshire’s corporate director for children and young people’s service, said no decision has yet been made about the future of the school sites.

He said: “I would wish to reassure parents and the local community that the best interests of the young people of Whitby is our primary focus and that in particular Year 9 students about to make GCSE choices will not be disadvantaged in any way.”