I am saddened by the news that Collenswood School is to close, however, I am also angered by the parents and pupils response. Their continual blame on the LEA etc is unbelievable. This school has been on special measures since 2002 and yet none of the p

I am saddened by the news that Collenswood School is to close, however, I am also angered by the parents' and pupils' response.

Their continual blame on the LEA etc is unbelievable. This school has been on special measures since 2002 and yet none of the pupils appear to have improved in their exams. Is this a failing of the LEA, the teachers or the pupils themselves? If my children's school was facing closure due to poor exam results and low morale I would make damned sure that my children put in as much effort as possible to improve the situation.

This school has been failed by its pupils and no one else. Education in Stevenage is continuously up against the attitude that education is unnecessary, after all what qualifications do you need to be on income support.

From a very young age children are allowed to skip school for the most ridiculous reasons, not bother with homework (indeed I have heard many parents criticise schools for handing out homework because they cannot be bothered to sit down with their child as it drags them away from the TV), the parents then expect the school to provide all their child's education including behaviour lessons, etc.

Neither parents nor pupils put in any extra effort which ultimately leads to more truancy and failed exams. If other schools in Stevenage are to avoid the same fate then it is the parents and pupils that have got to make the effort. There is only so much the teachers and LEA can do.

I have always actively encouraged my children to attend school regularly, do extra school work at home, as well as their homework, revise well for exams and explain that a good education will hopefully lead to better employment prospects as well as participate in several out-of-school activities. I hope the school they attend never faces closure and if it does, I hope the pupils, parents, governors and teachers will pull together and put in the extra effort to prevent it failing and closing. The battle to keep Collenswood open is over but the battle to prevent further school closures has just begun.

A school is only as good as the pupils who attend it.

NAME WITHHELD, Stevenage