CALLS have been made to remove a school from Flintshire Council’s shake-up of secondary education.

Hundreds of furious pupils, teachers and parents packed Clwyd Theatr Cymru on Wednesday to watch community leaders vote to put a hold on Flintshire Council’s controversial consultation process to revamp the county’s schools.

Northop councillor Marion Bateman is now calling for Argoed High School to be taken out of plans which could see it amalgamated with Elfed High School in Buckley.

She said: “There is no reason to have the Argoed as one of Flintshire Council’s school modernisation options. This is the only school in Flintshire without a sixth form.

“The current pattern of post-16 provision in schools is unsustainable. Around half of Flintshire secondary schools have too many small post-16 classes.

“This is a good school and it has outstanding leadership. The Argoed school is not broke so don’t fix it. Taking into consideration the good results in external examinations, the good teaching, the high quality curriculum provided, the outstanding care and support for pupils, the school offers good value for money.”

Flintshire Council leader Arnold Woolley said during the meeting a full council meeting to debate the issue will be held in September before an initial consultation process restarts on October 1.

Outline proposals will then be published in the new year ahead of a further consultation process.

Other options under consideration during the consultation included merging John Summers High School in Queensferry with Connah’s Quay High School.

Proposals were also put forward to create a ‘super school’ on the campus of Holywell High School with both primary and secondary education.