A LOWESTOFT father is calling for a vote of no confidence in Suffolk County Council's handling of its school organisational review.Malcolm Gibbs is the town's representative for Parents Against Change and was a stakeholder during the consultation process.

A LOWESTOFT father is calling for a vote of no confidence in Suffolk County Council's handling of its school organisational review.

Malcolm Gibbs is the town's representative for Parents Against Change and was a stakeholder during the consultation process.

Today he will launch a petition - to be circulated to every primary, middle and high school - claiming that the council has not listened to people's views. Mr Gibbs then aims to present his findings to the full council, asking for five minutes to speak to councillors.

He explained this week: “The vote of no confidence is a vote which isn't going to change anything.

“But I just want the council to be aware that parents do stand up for their own rights and what is right for their schools and for them to be aware that there are still parents who are outraged with the way they have handled things.

“When they started the SOR (school organisation review) they said it was a blank canvas, but whatever we did and the amount of time people spent telling them about the considerations of the 14-19 curriculum, no one was listening.

“They may think taking 16-year-olds out of high schools is a good idea and having them all under one roof would make more people stay on, but it's the diplomas themselves that keep pupils interested, not just being in a new college.”

Mr Gibbs said this was just one of the many aspects that had not been taken into account, including views of the stakeholders.

“Nothing on the school organisational review was decided by the stakeholders' committee - it was decided by the county council. I've got no confidence in the way they are implementing their plans,” he added.

“It's time people stood up and said they are not happy and have no confidence in the council.”