AS parents of a five-year-old child who attends St Barnabas Church of England School in Kidderminster we feel compelled to write about the plans to close it and merge it on the Marlpool First School site.

After fighting to get our son a place at the school less than 12 months ago, I now find - as do many others - that we are fighting to keep the school open!

Why is it that when a school excels, it is penalised?

We opted for a small school with links to our parish church. A school that our parents and family attended. A school with exceptional expectations for their pupils. A school that offers not only an excellent start in education but teaches children social skills together with an understanding of other people's needs. It's a family unit with staff, parents and children all contributing to the school and the community.

St Barnabas has the correct balance and offers many benefits that a larger school cannot compete with. We know what our child's needs are. So let us be the judges - not people in higher places who look at figures and places and try to fit them in neat little packages!

Our children are the future, let St Barnabas continue to give them the best possible start in life. Don't close us because we are different, keep us open because we have got it RIGHT.

Our school is what it is because of all the hard work of teachers, helpers, parents and, of course, the children.

Why rip out the heart out of our community?

S CHILMAN and A WOODALL

Lobelia Close, Kidderminster