A PETITION containing 850 signatures against the closure of a secondary school has been submitted to council officials.

Hartlepool Borough Council has drawn up proposals which include reducing the number of secondary schools from six to five, in the hope of getting a £90m Government Building Schools for the Future (BSF) grant to improve the town education.

Councillors at next month's cabinet meeting will discuss the scores of letters and e-mails they have received in response to the proposals.

In order to secure the grant, Hartlepool council must submit a detailed strategy explaining how it would use the money to tackle the challenges facing the schools - in particular, a projected fall of more than 1,000 in secondary school pupil numbers over the next ten years.

As a result, Brierton Community School has been outlined for closure by August 31, 2009.

Three stages of consultation by the council have now been carried out and councillors are expected to announce plans for the school closure and the transfer of pupils through a public notice after the meeting, on September 3.

The scheme has been met with a mixed response from parents, teachers and pupils, across the borough. Many have voiced positive responses to the idea.

In the final round of consultation 358 letters, 30 e-mails, a petition with 875 signatures, 209 individual response forms and 14 telephone calls had been received on the matter.

Every family with school children in the town, and families with pre-school children, were sent consultation information.

In addition, 83 meetings and events have been held.

A report to the council's cabinet members states: "The proposal to close Brierton Community School has not been driven by money.

As part of the of the BSF programme, the authority is required to submit a strategy for change to Government officials

"Part of this document must include the local authority's key priorities for the schools, in terms of location, size and cost, and an overview of public place requirements and planning projections."

Earlier this year, the council's director of children's services, Adrienne Simcock, said the well-being of the students was paramount and that the council would do everything possible to ensure their education is not affected.

No plans have been made for the Brierton land yet.