ANXIOUS Eggar's parents have issued the Local Education Authority (LEA) with an ultimatum in a bid to get to the bottom of problems at the school.
Desperate to secure "a fair and decent education" for their children, 54 parents have put their names to a letter to the LEA giving it two weeks to reply before going to the national press.
Shocked by the dissolution of the governing board - needed to enable further LEA investigations- and by revelations of poor management at the school which is said to have resulted in the resignation of a large number of staff and the apparent breakdown of discipline among some pupils, the parents are determined to resolve the situation once and for all.
The idea was developed by a small group of 10 parents drawn together by mutual concern for the future of children at the school, since when it has snowballed.
According to one parent, who at this stage does not wish to be named, they were all feeling that they alone were having to deal with problems related to their children and have since found that there are others in the same boat.
Their letter to the LEA asks the authority to communicate with all parents, either via a questionnaire or letter, explaining the situation and inviting their views and comments. This, they feel, should be followed by an open meeting which would allow parents to air their views and concerns regarding the management of Eggar's which they believe has led to the present state of affairs.
They believe this to be the most sensible way forward.
However, if a reply is not received within two weeks, the group intends to approach the national media, when they will communicate the controversy surrounding Eggar's to a much wider audience. They will also highlight the lack of communication between parties involved in the running of the school.
"We would not be taking this course of action if we did not feel it necessary but our children's future is at stake here and we are prepared to fight for it," said the spokesperson.
The parents are not out to destroy Eggar's - far from it. "Eggars is a lovely school with wonderful facilities but what's the point if they're not being used properly," says the spokesperson.
"We just want our questions answered and for the LEA to explain why the management policy is not working and what they are going to do about it."
Keen to get all parents involved, whatever their views on the management and experiences with the school, if the LEA fails to respond to requests, the group intends to hold a public meeting to which everyone will be invited.
Also, if necessary, it will open a PO Box so that those wishing to air their views but not in public can have a voice.