TOWNSEND School is just two council meetings away from closure after emotional appeals to save it fell on deaf ears at a cabinet meeting.

Members voted unanimously to close the Bournemouth school in July despite claims that standards are improving and appeals for the decision to be deferred.

A final decision will be made by full council on June 3 but cabinet members agreed to meet the day before to consider details of the school's latest Ofsted report and any other representations.

If they are convinced at that stage that there is a case for keeping the school open then the decision could be deferred to a later date.

Residents, supporters and school governors turned out to plead with the cabinet to save the school.

Cllr Anne Rey told the meeting: "Do not play politics with children's lives. A school is more than a school - it is a community and a family. If you have a real will and a care for this community you will keep it open."

And Cllr Ted Taylor told cabinet members that an Ofsted inspection report due in the next few weeks is likely to reveal dramatic improvements in education at the school.

He added: "You should listen to the people and defer the decision for a short while to see what the report says. The parents and the children have seen a great improvement."

Parent Luke Wilson said afterwards: "I still believe in miracles - I will not give up. The cabinet is very short-sighted."

And governor Rev Andy McPherson added: "I feel that the cabinet and many councillors have failed to listen to the strong arguments against the closure of the school."

Bournemouth council decided to close the school at the end of this academic year for a number of reasons including poor academic achievement, difficulty in retaining key staff and high running costs.

If closure becomes a reality - as seems likely - children from the estate will travel to Queens Park Infants, Queens Park Junior, Kings Park Primary or Malmesbury Park Primary schools.