NOW that Health Concern councillors have taken control of Wyre Forest District Council I hope they are going to prove themselves worthy of our votes and involve themselves in ALL local issues. I have not seen much evidence of this in recent years.

To Dr Eeles, entering politics for the first time in my own ward, Habberley and Blakebrook, I urge him to take up the worrying matter of the future of Harry Cheshire High School among other things.

Local residents want to know whether the site has a secure future as an educational centre and local parents want to know that their children will be able to receive an education locally in the future.

As far as recent comments regarding the school, to say its catchment area includes the most deprived part of Kidderminster is only a half-truth - it also contains one of the most affluent areas of the town. The catchment area for the other two high schools in the town is also mixed but King Charles, in particular, succeeds. To blame the catchment area for poor results is a cop out. There are examples around the country where good headteachers have been brought in and turned poor performing schools around. One in Leeds still has the same deprived council estate in its catchment area, but "middle class" parents are moving house to ensure their children gain places.

It is becoming increasingly proven that poor performing schools have more to do with the teachers than the pupils. Of particular importance is the support and motivation they receive from the head.

If Harry Cheshire was to close the children hardest hit would be those from the so-called deprived areas, many of whom have parents without their own transport.

I sincerely hope that Councillor Eeles will take up the cudgels in support of the school and that the education authority will work to improve standards there for the long term.

If the school performs well I will send my children (currently aged five and two) to it. If it doesn't I won't. I hope I have the choice.

SARAH BEADSWORTH

St John's Avenue

Kidderminster