PARENTS and pupils have penned a song as they continue their fight to save Moorlands Infant School from closure.

It comes in the latest stage of their battle to save the Bitterne-based school which Southampton City Council want to turn into a one-form entry primary school because of falling pupil numbers.

A number of parents will make a last-ditch attempt to win their case by making deputations at the council's next executive meeting today.

On Saturday, Year 2 pupils performed the song entitled 'There Should be More Schools like Moorlands' at the school's summer fayre.

Mums and dads hope the song's rousing lyrics, including the line 'It's a small school, with a big heart, and gives us such a great start' will show the strength of support for the school in Kesteven Way.

Since the Daily Echo reported on last week's decision by the council to recommend Moorland's closure, dozens of parents and concerned residents have contacted the paper to voice their anger.

Parents insist the school, with 120 pupils aged from four to seven on roll, should be saved because of its high academic standards, hard-working teachers and caring environment.

They want the school and attached Montessori Seedlings Nursery to remain at the centre of the community and warn that any closure would lead to more traffic congestion as parents would face longer school runs by car.

However, education bosses insist the school should close because it has too many surplus places due to falling birth rates.

And they are confident there will be enough room for pupils from Moorlands at Bitterne Park Infant, Glenfield Infant, Harefield Infant and Townhill Infant schools if the school was to close.

The school's current admission roll is 180 with 60 places available in Reception year. But new government guidelines mean that surplus places are calculated on the number of children that could comfortably fit into teaching areas.

This means that Moorlands, which benefits from extensive buildings on its site, has a so-called "net capacity" of 243. It is this figure the City Council must use to determine the number of surplus places (123) and whether action needs to be taken.

Parents' spokeswoman Jo Barnard, who has two children at the school, said the measurement of the school's capacity was unfair and believes there would be enough demand from juniors if it was turned into a one form entry school.

"Townhill Junior School is the nearest school to us and is 124 children over its net capacity, and would continue to be overcapacity in 2009 (based on predicted figures) even if Moorlands were to become a primary school.

"We have put forward rational arguments for turning Moorlands into a primary and believe that the council has not looked at all the options closely enough.

"The second page of the council's own 21-page report says that on balance closure is the best option but if you took that page away, I believe most people would come to the conclusion that turning the school into a primary was the best option."

Councillor Calvin Horner, the city council's executive member for education will make a final decision on the school's fate on July 19. He said: "Representations that people want to make, whether it is through letters to the Daily Echo, or deputations, will be listened to along with all the views that came up in the consultation process."

SCHOOL SONG

There should be MORE schools like MOORLANDS

Where children do so well

We're always smiling when we're arriving

And going home as well

It's a small school with a big heart

And it gives us such a great start

With Key Stage 1 and 2 and all the rest

There should be MORE schools like MOORLANDS

Not less!!

There should be MORE schools like MOORLANDS

Where lessons are such fun

Where we are taught to be safe and helpful

And kind to everyone

It's an infants school with a big heart

And the only one with a Gold Arts Mark

A place that helps us be our very best

There should be MORE schools like MOORLANDS

Not less!!