Hall Cross School, which dates back to the fourteenth century, could be forced to abandon its Upper School site should provisional plans by Doncaster Council to revolutionise secondary education throughout the borough eventually get the green light.

But pupils currently based at the Thorne Road location have reacted furiously to the proposals - and are already busy planning a series of protests.

Hall Cross sixth form student Matthew Walker, of Sprotbrough, has also taken the debate into cyberspace by launching a forum on the popular MySpace site for pupils to have their say on the idea.

"It saddens me that they have plans to get rid of part of Doncaster's culture," he said. "Surely one of the oldest schools in the country which contains so much history should be kept in the area that is supposed to be the town's civic and cultural quarter?

"These plans are absolutely ludicrous and need to be stopped."

Several pupils have already added their names to the petition, while one former student posts: "A lovely old building with a great history and many fond memories - it seems a shame to let politics and profit destroy over six hundred years of tradition."

The newly-formed 'Save Our School' group plan to meet on Thursday after the Free Press revealed last week that the listed Hall Cross town centre site, which features a library designed by world famous architect Sir George Gilbert Scott, could close as part of a £200m 'Building Schools for the Future' (BSF) strategy.

Mayor Martin Winter's white paper, which is out for public consultation for the remainder of the month, reveals plans to remove split-site schools, reduce almost 4,000 surplus places and introduce several 'new-style' academies across the town.

Initial proposals would see Hall Cross School remain only at its St Michael's Road address in Bessacarr, while the sixth form would work collaboratively with Danum Technology College and Doncaster College.

Pupil capacity at the school, one of the 25 oldest education establishments in the country, would be slashed from 2,349 to 1,275.

Coun Chris Mills, cabinet member for education, insisted at a public meeting last week that plans were in the "very early stages" and that every school would have a voice in the ongoing consultation process.



Click here to join the online debate about the future of Hall Cross School http://groups.myspace.com/savehallx.

Click here to sign a further internet petition

Tell us what you think about the BSF proposals by clicking here and email us at editorial@doncastertoday.co.uk

*Public consultation for the 'Building Schools for the Future' white paper ends on Monday, March 3.

Further public meetings are scheduled for The Hayfield School (Monday, February 18), Balby Carr Community Sports College (Tuesday, February 19), and Northcliffe School (Wednesday, February 20) from 6pm-7.30pm.

Copies of the white paper can be accessed online at www.doncaster.gov.uk/bsf and are also available in libraries, schools, doctor's surgeries and council office receptions.

Any feedback should be sent to: BSF Consultation, The Blue Building, 38-40 High Street, Doncaster DN1 1DE.

Comments can also be submitted at www.doncaster.gov.uk/bsf, click here to by email bsf.team@doncaster.gov.uk, or calling 01302 736033.