Last updated at 14:26, Tuesday, 15 May 2012

A PARENT group fighting to save a school says it feels it is close enough to its pupil and fundraising targets to go to the bank with a ‘credible and sustainable’ business plan.

Chetwynde Support Group last week said that it needed to have commitments for 225 pupils for September and £500,000 by yesterday at 4pm.

The CSG told the Evening Mail: “We are very, very close to achieving what needs to be achieved. We feel the momentum gathered, and the level of commitment shown, means we can go to the bank this week with a credible and sustainable business plan to secure the future of the school.”

The CSG has said the increasing student numbers is a focus of the ongoing plans for the Barrow private school.

The CSG website says the fundraising total is £426,220, but it is understood the latest figure is higher than that, and pupil number commitments have grown over the last few days.

Fundraising activities are planned for months ahead.

CSG was due to meet the bank on Wednesday.

Members of the group are to make up the transitional governing body, as the present board of governors has agreed to step aside.

Chetwynde parents have received letters from Cumbria County Council offering places in other schools, with a deadline for accepting these being June 1.

The local authority said it had received 177 applications from parents of pupils who now attend Chetwynde School.

The CSG has asked parents to remain committed to Chetwynde and not to accept these places just yet as offers are secure and will not be taken away and that there is still some time before parents need to accept.

First published at 13:46, Tuesday, 15 May 2012
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk