THE headteacher who has come to Deanes’ rescue said the new partnership would make both schools stronger and better places to learn.

Sue Hammond, headteacher of the Billericay School, says she is only too happy to step-up and join forces with Jan Atkinson and the Deanes School, claiming the decision to shut it down was morally wrong. The two women have known each other for 15 years and already work together on teaching training to improve standards of learning at both schools.

Mrs Hammond said: “The Deanes School is a good school which serves its community well and it would be very detrimental if it closed.

“We have an obligation to ensure parents and children can choose the education they want and the scale of opinion demonstrates the community wants the Deanes to stay open.

“We were very disappointed something like that should happen to such a good school.”

The Deanes School is a specialist sports and performing arts college and the Billericay School is a maths and computing specialist school, so both schools would utilise each other’s expertise.

Mrs Hammond added: “It is so important schools collaborate for the good of the children and we have such strong bonds with the Deanes. There is a huge amount to be gained for both schools.

“The Deanes has its marvellous work as a sports college and we are a larger school with academy experience and post-16 facilities.”

Deanes headteacher Jan Atkinson added: “Sue and I have worked together very closely in the past.

“We have picked the school because it is a good school and have a very similar ethos to ours, and we think this is the right fit for our children.”

Billericay School’s governors are due to consider the proposals at an extraordinary meeting on February 24.