by Hayley Robinson

hrobinson@thekmgroup.co.uk

Tears were shed by a head teacher as she made a passionate plea to staff, pupils and parents to fight against Medway Council’s proposal to close their school.

Nicole Caulfield, head of St Peter’s Infant School, tried to fight her tears as she read her speech during a meeting held at the Rochester school last night to discuss how the community can fight the plans together.

Mrs Caulfield said: "The children of St Peter’s are a credit to us all, they are happy, confident and secure and I am proud of them everyday and I am proud of the staff that care for them and nurture them and give them the best possible start to their school lives.

"To lose a school like St Peter’s would be a crime.

"To take away from the children and families of Rochester the choice of coming to, and here I’m going to quote one of our parents: ‘a golden nugget in the heart of Rochester,’ would be a huge and devastating loss, a school like St Peter’s can never be replaced once it is gone.

"We as a school team are campaigning hard, but it is you the parents, members of the community and people of Rochester who have the most say who need to raise up their voices and tell your local Councillors that they are wrong. That the people of Rochester say ‘no to the closure of a good school.'

"This is not a foregone conclusion, you can make a difference but it is about getting your message across, consistently and strongly."

Ward councillors Teresa Murray and Nick Bowler also attended the meeting.

Cllr Murray said: "I don’t really know why Medway Council is doing this but I do know I will join all of you and try to stop this from happening.

"I need you to support the school and not get scared and take the children away."