Building pressure

Ultimately they hope as many as 20,000 people will sign their online petition, but are aiming for 5,000 in the first two weeks as they strive to make the Government sit up and take notice of the terrible state of the town’s school buildings.

Big plans for the Grove, Orchard and Magnus schools were hit by the Government’s cancellation of the Building Schools for the Future programme.

The Grove and Orchard were due to be rebuilt and urgent repairs are needed to some of the Magnus buildings.

Those behind the campaign hope pupils themselves will play a part.

The online element of the petition should appeal and they, along with anyone else who cares about the future of education in Newark, can find out more about it by joining SOS Newark — Support Our Schools on the social networking site, Facebook.

As part of their efforts to build support campaigners will have a stall in Newark Market Place from 10am to 3pm on Saturday.

Times are hard and massive cuts in public spending are coming, but investing in schools to provide the best possible learning environment is an investment geared to future prosperity.

Some buildings at the Grove are literally crumbling, while it is only through the generosity of the private sector in providing a new flat roof that pupils at the Orchard no longer have to catch rainwater in buckets during heavy downpours.

Now there’s a chance for everyone to do their bit by taking just a few minutes to show their support — there’s nothing to lose and much to gain.