School governors have warned that one of Witham’s academies could shut if parents do not support a proposed merger. 

Lesley Guy and Martin Chudleigh, who chair the governing bodies at Maltings Academy and New Rickstones Academy respectively, said “standing still cannot be ignored” after 1,000 parents and residents opposed merging the schools.

Mr Chudleigh, whose two children attend New Rickstones, said: “The option of a school closing in Witham is something we have to consider and we would want to get the support of our parents to stop that from happening.

“We have two fantastic buildings here and I will fight to the death to stop one from closing.

“It is an option that could happen but I don’t want that to happen.”

New Rickstones has low pupil numbers - fewer than half its 1,100 capacity - while Maltings Academy is oversubscribed.

See this week's Witham Times for the full story.