Parents fighting to save a threatened Brighton school say it should be given at least another six months to prove itself.

Campaigners say East Brighton College of Media Arts (Comart) has improved dramatically this year and staff, pupils and governors should be given more time.

Brighton and Hove City Council is consulting on the school's future but has only recommended it close.

Kevin Dale and other members of the Local Education Action Group met with Liz Wylie, assistant director for the children, families and schools department at the council, yesterday to press their case.

Mr Dale said: "She listened to what we had to say and took on board our concerns.

"We are hoping to get all the interested parties involved around the table for a face-to-face meeting to thrash everything out.

"We do not want the school to close. It has been doing extremely well in the past few months since the new team took over running it.

"We are hoping when Mrs Wylie presents her report on Comart to a council committee in December she will recommend extending the consultation and giving the school another six months to show how well it is doing."

Comart is threatened with closure because of falling pupil numbers, poor exam results and high truancy rates.

Campaigners say shutting the school would disrupt the education of existing students, cost more money in bus fares and new uniforms and stop parents from playing an active role in their children's school lives.

Campaigners, who include community leaders, councillors, teachers, governors and students have come up with a 15 page report on the school's future.

It recommends creating a smaller community school with enhanced facilities on the Comart site in Wilson Avenue.

Mrs Wylie said: "We had a very useful and constructive meeting and I have agreed to attend a meeting with their partnership.

"We also worked together on how to put their proposition to extend the consultation to councillors."

Tuesday October 28, 2003