Dad-of-three David Lott spoke for more than 300 parents last night when he called for a school to be saved.

Oxfordshire County Council has drawn up plans to scrap the city's middle schools and replace them with primary and secondary schools, to fall in line with the rest of the county.

Last night, at Temple Cowley Middle School, Oxford, education bosses met parents to discuss the plans. Mr Lott, a publisher who lives off Iffley Road, said: "This is an excellent school. It would be a tragedy if it has to close." He said his 12-year-old daughter Dulcie was in her last year at the school and was achieving well. His first daughter, Josephine, 17, also attended and had good results.

"I believe it is mainly for financial reasons that the county council is planning to switch to a two-tier education structure," he added.

Local education authority spokesman Robert Capstick stressed that consulting parents was an important part of the planned schedule.

Temple Cowley headteacher Martin Thomas said there was no real evidence to suggest that children would do better in a two-tier system and urged parents to sign a petition to try to save the school. He admitted there were financial implications contained in the proposals.

He said: "There are now 45 schools in Oxford city and, if proposals were implemented, that would be reduced to 34 schools. We would save quite a lot on overheads and more money could be spent on children and classrooms."

Story date: Wednesday 03 November

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