Students at Chatham South have been protesting over plans to merge the school with Medway Community College to create Medway’s second academy.

Around two hundred pupils skipped classes to take part in the demonstation, unhappy at a proposal which could lead to the the two secondary schools becoming one from 2010.

The youngsters, supervised by teachers,spent most of Monday morning in the school playground.

The new £25 million academy building will open on the Medway Community College site by 2013, subject to council approval later this year.

The government will meet the costs of the new school as well as funding to ensure a smooth transition from the current arrangements to the new academy.

The Church of England will be the lead sponsor of the new school, with Canterbury Christ Church University acting as a co-sponsor alongside Medway Council.

Whilst MCC was placed in special measures following an Ofsted report earlier this year, over -subscribed Chatham South is said to be highly successful and judged by Ofsted Inspectors as ‘good.’

Vincent O’ Mara, head teacher at Chatham South, said:”There is a fine line between teaching students the importance of democracy and being good citizens and taking appropriate action.

“I would say the students time would be better spent trying to influence the council and writing sensible letters which I know some are doing as part on the consultation, rather than congregating on the grass first thing on a Monday morning after a week’s break.”

More reports in Friday’s Medway Messenger and online at www.medwaymessenger.co.uk