PROPOSALS to move Worcester's Christopher Whitehead High School have been given a public thumbs down.

Worcestershire County Council sent out 10,000 leaflets before Christmas, asking for people's views and 15 per cent of people replied.

In response to the question: "Do you think the pupils and community will benefit from a new purpose-built school at either Grove Farm or Earl's Court Farm?" 596 people said yes, 772 said no and 81 did not know.

In reply to the question: "Do you feel that a new supermarket in St John's would benefit the local community?" 627 said yes, 781 said no and 40 did not know.

Tesco has suggested demolishing the school in St John's and replacing it with a supermarket.

A replacement school might be provided either at Grove Farm or Earl's Court Farm, on the western edge of Dines Green.

"I feel there's a clear indication that people in St John's don't want to see land allocated either for a school or for a retailer," said county councillor Derek Prodger, who has called for the public to be kept informed about the future of the school.

He said the results represented a "mandate" to keep it in its present location.

Coun Prodger felt the support for a supermarket "in St John's" was due to the fact that the question did not specify any particular site.

Coun Dan Wicksteed, portfolio holder for education, said the consultation was a very useful exercise, which would be considered by

the executive committee.

"The majority of people have voted not to move. But there seems to be a strong feeling both ways.

"It's quite interesting to see that a lot of the younger people are in favour of the school moving. We also believe the school and its governors are in favour."

Seven thousand leaflets were distributed with the Berrows' Worcester Journal, the sister paper of the Evening News.

Another 3,000 were handed out at schools and a "drop-in day" was held at Christopher Whitehead.

Worcestershire County Council has classed the 15 per cent response rate as "disappointing".

People in the 21-35 age group were in favour of the move, according to the authority, while other age brackets opposed it.

All schools, apart from Pitmaston Primary, voted in favour of the move.

People living south of Bransford Road responded in greater numbers to the poll than those to the north.