Education Secretary Charles Clarke has refused to intervene in the growing row over the future of Canvey's three secondary schools.

An angry mum has written to the minister demanding he sort out the "fiasco" of the threat to close one of the main schools on the island.

But he has revealed there is nothing either he or his department can do about the threat to Furtherwick Park, Castle View or Cornelius Vermuyden.

In her letter to Mrs Jayne Stephens, Amy Blackett - who deals with local school implementation in the East of England - said: "It is the legal duty of each Local Education Authority to ensure sufficient school places exist to meet the needs of the population and we also look to LEAs to ensure schools serve the needs of their communities and provide good quality education in a cost effective way."

Ms Blackett concluded her letter saying: "The Government believes that the structures in place for local planning and decision making regarding school closures allow for the concerns, objections and interests of local stakeholders to be fully considered before any final decision is taken."

Published Monday July 12, 2004

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