HEADTEACHERS walked out of an emotionally-charged meeting in disgust, before councillors voted to go ahead with plans to close two Bury high schools.

Broad Oak High School's Neil O'Connor and Prestwich Arts College's Geoff Barlow stormed out after comments made by a Radcliffe councillor.

Coun Sharon Briggs told the meeting she had been saddened by what she described as 'negative' comments made by people representing the doomed schools.

She said: 'I'm not sure that some of the professionals who have spoken tonight have got the best interests of the children at heart. I have heard a lot of negative comments and I am quite saddened by some of them. It doesn't make me feel good and it doesn't make me feel confident.' Mr O'Connor said that he took offence at her comments and left the room.

Mr Barlow later said he would be demanding an apology from Coun Briggs.

In the end, despite weeks of vigorous campaigning from both schools, and impassioned pleas from the headteachers and pupils, seven members of the executive committee voted in favour of the closures, while one Conservative councillor, Bob Bibby, voted against.

However, at the meeting on Tuesday night they were warned to keep their minds open until the next meeting on March 22 while the views of two MPs were sought.

The agreed recommendation was for the committee to be 'minded to approve' closure of the two schools, subject to further consultation with Graham Stringer and Hazel Blears, who represent areas where pupils from outside the district live. Mr Stringer, MP for Blackley, had written to Bury Council and Education Secretary Ruth Kelly voicing his concerns about 'procedural irregularities' over the closure plans.

This move will delay the council in issuing a statutory notice to close the schools, although the overall timescale will not be affected and the final decision will lie with the Schools Organisation Committee in June.

A group of around 50 people bearing banners and placards protested outside the town hall before the meeting.

During the debate, Broad Oak headteacher Mr Neil O'Connor stormed out of the committee room in disgust before the decision was made, after listening to comments from Coun Sharon Briggs.

Many of the audience, including Prestwich Arts College headteacher Geoff Barlow, also joined him in the walkout.

Coun Briggs said she had been saddened by what she described as 'negative' comments made by people representing the doomed schools.

She said: 'I'm not sure that some of the professionals that have spoken tonight have got the best interests of the children at heart.

'I have heard a lot of negative comments and I am quite saddened by some of them. It doesn't make me feel good and it doesn't make me feel confident.' Mr O'Connor said that he took offence at her comments and left the room. Mr Barlow later said he would be demanding an apology from the Radcliffe councillor.

Earlier, Mr O'Connor had stated his case for the original plan to amalgamate with The Derby to go ahead instead of the proposal to close Broad Oak.

In the original plan, it was suggested the two could amalgamate and a new £20m school be built at Castlecroft.

After the decision was deferred on February 1, further views were sought from the four schools involved Prestwich, Parrenthorn, Broad Oak and The Derby.

Headteacher of The Derby Mrs Alyson Byrne said she didn't believe her school should be closed 'given its excellent levels of performance' and that an amalgamation would result in plummeting attainment by pupils.

Mr O'Connor said: 'I am the headteacher of the lowest performing school in this town and I am incredibly proud of my students. We are an improving school and they work incredibly hard.

'The idea of amalgamation was unpalatable but it was a lifeline. It meant the pupils would be treated fairly. Children would be made aware that there were equally valued.

'However, the proposals at the moment mean that they are worthless. I can tell you that they are not worthless and we have done our utmost to make them realise that they are not worthless.' Mr O'Connor said that, since the decision had changed from amalgamation to closure, 25 per cent of his staff had already said they were looking for new jobs. Beforehand, all had pledged their support to work for an amalgamated school.

Assistant headteacher Geoff Decker added: 'A lot of our children come from the most socially deprived estate in Bury, the Dickie Bird. The children who need the most attention will receive the least. They will be written off. I ask you as councillors to think about the future of the children in East ward. Are you doing the right thing for these families?' In another gesture of protest, Prestwich Year 7 pupil Sophie Doherty handed back a social inclusion award presented to her school by the council.

She said: 'You have given us this award but you obviously don't respect that, so you can have it back.' Headteacher Geoff Barlow said the whole process had been surrounded by concern, mistrust and confusion and appealed for the decision to be the best for all children in Bury, not just the majority.

He said: 'If this was a court of law, you would have to convince yourselves that your decision was beyond all reasonable doubt. I don't think it will pass the test of beyond all reasonable doubt.' The seven councillors who supported the report agreed that 'to do nothing was not an option'.

Deputy leader of the council, Coun Mike Connolly, said: 'My genuine, honest belief is that the proposals tonight best address the issues. Yes, there's heartache and upset and uncertainty and a lot of feeling. I understand that but at the end of it all no one has mentioned the positives in this.

'What will come out of it will be a brand spanking new £20m school and a major investment in Prestwich. We have got to think about the long term future of our schools.' On Monday, 24 hours before the crunch meeting, Broad Oak pupils descended on Bury town hall to stage a demonstration and hold two assemblies putting forward their case for survival.