ANOTHER pressure group has waded into the furore surrounding the relocation of a major city high school.

The future of Christopher Whitehead High School in St John's hangs in the balance as councillors argue whether to replace the dilapidated classrooms on the school's current site, or to move it to the city's outskirts.

Last month, following a public inquiry, Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott said the school should stay put in the community.

Undeterred, a new group ANSWER (A New School With Excellent Resources) is being launched by parents in favour of Christopher Whitehead High School relocating.

ANSWER will oppose the views held by another parent-run group called CHRISS (Community Has Rights in School Site) which is campaigning for Christopher Whitehead to stay in St John's.

The founders, Tracy and Martin Heywood, have three children - Gemma, 13, who is at Christopher Whitehead High School, St John's, at the moment, and 11-year-old Scott and four-year-old Grant set to start in the future.

Disruption

"There is no way the buildings can be demolished and rebuilt in during the summer holidays - what about the disruption this would cause to pupils?

"You only have one real chance at your education - between the ages of 11 to 16," said Mrs Heywood.

"We are fed up with the negative views being put forward by Paul Saunders of the CHRISS group.

"The school will still be without playing fields of its own, and the school will only be able to do half the job.

"If they are going to spend all this money they have to do it properly," she added.

The Heywoods plan to leaflet the St John's area to raise support to take to Worcester MP Mike Foster, who last week called for the high school to be rebuilt on its current site.

Headteacher, Neil Morris, said there was a danger that arguments could overshadow the school's improving track record.

"It's about time somebody talked about kids and their education.

"We have made record progress and we are doing really well, but that seems to be getting lost in the debate," he said.

Paul Saunders, spokesman for CHRISS, said he thought the formation of the group was to coincide with the county council's decision not to pursue the relocation matter to the High Court - after its plans were rejected by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.

"The vast majority of people in St John's don't want this relocation to happen," added Mr Saunders.