PROPOSALS to close Woolston Community High School are ploughing ahead despite stalwart opposition from campaigners to save the school.

A report to be delivered at Monday's executive board is likely to sound the death knell for the school.

This comes despite vehement opposition from parents, pupils, staff and members of the wider community and thousands of signatures gathered on a petition to be delivered to Downing Street to keep the school open.

Extensive consultation has been ongoing since last year and the report will inform members of the Executive Board of the most recent statutory consultation on the proposed closure, which ended on November 9.

When Woolston supporters hand-delivered some 2,300 written responses condemning the proposals to Executive Board member Clr Sheila Woodyatt and Norma Cadwallader.

Speaking to the Warrington Guardian at the time, Clr Woodyatt said: "I did not become a councillor to close schools.

"I have been in education all my life and consulting with people about the closing of a school was one of the hardest things I have had to do as a councillor."

If the Executive Board backs the recommendations of the report no future pupils will be admitted to year 7 as of next year, with would-be Woolston pupils joining Padgate Community High School.

Where possible all existing pupils will complete their education at Woolston Community High School.

And the next stage of the statutory process, the publication of a statutory notice, will be actioned.