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Children urged to support schools campaign




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School pupils are being urged to sign an online petition calling for desperately needed investment in Newark’s secondary schools.

The Support Our Schools campaign has so far collected about 3,500 signatures, but it is estimated that less than 200 of those are from children or young people.

The petition, supported by the Advertiser, covers the Grove, Orchard and Magnus schools, which need rebuilding or extensive repairs.

A Grove School parent and member of the campaign, Mr Don Melrose, said school children in the area had a personal interest in signing the petition.

"They deserve a decent place to study," he said.

Mr Melrose said there was no age restriction as anybody who was able to write their name could sign the petition, which can be viewed via the campaign website - www.sos-newark.btck.co.uk

He said it was a 20-second job but was important for the future of Newark.

Leaflets explaining the campaign have been handed out to the 6,500 pupils at the Grove, Orchard and Magnus schools and their feeder primary schools.

A Facebook page - SOS Newark — Support Our Schools - has been created to promote the campaign.

Campaigners want at least 5,000 signatures in time for the ministerial visit to Newark by Lord Hill, the parliamentary under secretary of state for schools.

"If we don't get 5,000 they will just think we're not bothered," said Mr Melrose.

The date for the ministerial visit, secured by the MP for Newark, Mr Patrick Mercer, has not been set but it is expected before Christmas.

Mr Mercer has received assurance from the Education Secretary, Mr Michael Gove, that Lord Hill will visit all three secondary schools.

The visit is in response to the Coalition Government's controversial decision to scrap the Building Schools For The Future scheme, which had allocated millions of pounds of investment for Newark.

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