PARENTS of pupils at Townsend School will today find out where their children will go if the school closes.

But the majority of parents are continuing their fight to keep the school open, saying closure would be "catastrophic".

Dad-of-four Luke Wilson has gathered responses from most of the families with children at Townsend Primary and Nursery School to submit to the council.

Mr Wilson, 35, of Ibbertson Close, said: "I asked them to be honest and write how closure will affect them and the community. They say although the council says it is considering the children they have not thought about the social, financial or health reasons for the school to stay open."

Mum Billie Freeman, who has three children at the school, said: "If the school were to close, the effect would be catastrophic and would affect this area for many years to come.

"There will be children who will not receive any kind of education at all and neither will their children. And in a few years from now the streets of Townsend will be filled with uneducated feral children putting even more pressure on other public services."

She said "nobody has bothered to consider the human side" and because her husband is ill and she suffers from depression the family would not cope without the school.

Childminder Sally Fry, who has a daughter at Townsend Primary, said the school's breakfast club was essential for her to work and stay off benefits.

Others point out the council's transport arrangements will not allow their children to do after-school activities at their new schools and it would be difficult for them to attend parents' evenings or school plays.

Other parents are worried about the reception their children could receive at new schools.

Sonia Jamieson said: "It breaks my heart to think how they will be picked on and have their self-esteem taken from them."

Many parents, including Phillipa Lane from Southbourne, praised the school and the work of the head teacher.

The school's future will be discussed by Bournemouth Borough Council cabinet on June 2 which will be the first time the school's improved Ofsted report, bringing it out of special measures, will be formally considered.

Cabinet's decision will have to be passed by full council on June 3.