Parents, pupils and teachers march through Great Yarmouth to protest Alderman Swindell closure

Pupils, parents and staff gather to protest through the streets of Yarmouth a giant plans to merge Aldermann Swindell School Byline: Sonya Duncan Copyright: Archant 2017 (Image: Archant 2017)

Dozens took to the streets in Great Yarmouth to protest what parents and teachers see as the closure Alderman Swindell Primary School in Beresford Road.

Norfolk County Council is referring to the change as a 'lift and shift' so pupils will move into expanded facilities at the nearby North Denes Primary School site.

However teachers at Swindell have been told to expect job losses and many fear they will not have a job once the change happens.

MORE: Proposal to merge Alderman Swindell and North Denes Primary Schools in Great Yarmouth takes step forward, despite oppositionWaving placards and holding yellow balloons, the school's colours, the protesters marched from the St George's Theatre to the top of Market Place and back again.

Pupils, parents and staff gather to protest through the streets of Yarmouth a giant plans to merge Aldermann Swindell School Byline: Sonya Duncan Copyright: Archant 2017 (Image: Archant 2017)

Pupils stopped in the Market Place to sing their Save Swindell song which received cheers from passersby who were eating chips from the market.

Headteacher Alison Hopley said the support for parents and staff spoke for itself.

She added: 'We're celebrating a fantastic school that the community wants to keep open.

'We're a community school, it's more than just the children. It's the families, it's the residents that we serve. There are generations of people here, we've been here for 88 years.

Pupils, parents and staff gather to protest through the streets of Yarmouth a giant plans to merge Aldermann Swindell School Byline: Sonya Duncan Copyright: Archant 2017 (Image: Archant 2017)

'It's an integral part of the community and the turnout shows what people really feel.'

The county council has confirmed at the start of September that its proposal, announced in June, to close Swindell and move it into a new building on the North Denes Primary School site would move forward.

The Alderman Swindell buildings could 'potentially be used to create a school for children with additional needs', the council said.

The announcement followed a six-week consultation with parents, residents, pupils and staff, and the council admitted that a 'small majority' of those that responded were against the proposal.

Pupils, parents and staff gather to protest through the streets of Yarmouth a giant plans to merge Aldermann Swindell School Byline: Sonya Duncan Copyright: Archant 2017 (Image: Archant 2017)

However parents and staff felt ignored, as the decision went against what the majority wanted.

Mrs Hopley said they just wanted answers.

She added: 'We've asked lots and lots of questions, and we've not had any direct answers. You can't engage in an informed debate unless you have the facts.'

Pupils, parents and staff gather to protest through the streets of Yarmouth a giant plans to merge Aldermann Swindell School Byline: Sonya Duncan Copyright: Archant 2017 (Image: Archant 2017)

Pupils, parents and staff gather to protest through the streets of Yarmouth a giant plans to merge Aldermann Swindell School Byline: Sonya Duncan Copyright: Archant 2017 (Image: Archant 2017)

Pupils, parents and staff gather to protest through the streets of Yarmouth a giant plans to merge Aldermann Swindell School Byline: Sonya Duncan Copyright: Archant 2017 (Image: Archant 2017)

Pupils, parents and staff gather to protest through the streets of Yarmouth a giant plans to merge Aldermann Swindell School Byline: Sonya Duncan Copyright: Archant 2017 (Image: Archant 2017)

Pupils, parents and staff gather to protest through the streets of Yarmouth a giant plans to merge Aldermann Swindell School Byline: Sonya Duncan Copyright: Archant 2017 (Image: Archant 2017)

Pupils, parents and staff gather to protest through the streets of Yarmouth a giant plans to merge Aldermann Swindell School Byline: Sonya Duncan Copyright: Archant 2017 (Image: Archant 2017)

Pupils, parents and staff gather to protest through the streets of Yarmouth a giant plans to merge Aldermann Swindell School Byline: Sonya Duncan Copyright: Archant 2017 (Image: Archant 2017)

Pupils, parents and staff gather to protest through the streets of Yarmouth a giant plans to merge Aldermann Swindell School Byline: Sonya Duncan Copyright: Archant 2017 (Image: Archant 2017)

Pupils, parents and staff gather to protest through the streets of Yarmouth a giant plans to merge Aldermann Swindell School Byline: Sonya Duncan Copyright: Archant 2017 (Image: Archant 2017)

Pupils, parents and staff gather to protest through the streets of Yarmouth a giant plans to merge Aldermann Swindell School Byline: Sonya Duncan Copyright: Archant 2017 (Image: Archant 2017)

Pupils, parents and staff gather to protest through the streets of Yarmouth a giant plans to merge Aldermann Swindell School Byline: Sonya Duncan Copyright: Archant 2017 (Image: Archant 2017)

Pupils, parents and staff gather to protest through the streets of Yarmouth a giant plans to merge Aldermann Swindell School Byline: Sonya Duncan Copyright: Archant 2017 (Image: Archant 2017)

Pupils, parents and staff gather to protest through the streets of Yarmouth a giant plans to merge Aldermann Swindell School Byline: Sonya Duncan Copyright: Archant 2017 (Image: Archant 2017)

Pupils, parents and staff gather to protest through the streets of Yarmouth a giant plans to merge Aldermann Swindell School Byline: Sonya Duncan Copyright: Archant 2017 (Image: Archant 2017)

Pupils, parents and staff gather to protest through the streets of Yarmouth a giant plans to merge Aldermann Swindell School Byline: Sonya Duncan Copyright: Archant 2017 (Image: Archant 2017)

Pupils, parents and staff gather to protest through the streets of Yarmouth a giant plans to merge Aldermann Swindell School Byline: Sonya Duncan Copyright: Archant 2017 (Image: Archant 2017)

Pupils, parents and staff gather to protest through the streets of Yarmouth a giant plans to merge Aldermann Swindell School Byline: Sonya Duncan Copyright: Archant 2017 (Image: Archant 2017)

Pupils, parents and staff gather to protest through the streets of Yarmouth a giant plans to merge Aldermann Swindell School Byline: Sonya Duncan Copyright: Archant 2017 (Image: Archant 2017)