PADGATE Community High School staff have defended a controversial name change due when pupils from two communities come together in September.

Letters from head teacher Alison Sherman were sent to pupils at the Insall Road establishment and feeder primary schools, explaining the reasons for the change and asking people to vote for their preferred choice.

Mrs Sherman said the school would be serving both Padgate and Woolston from September and a vision to ‘encompass the educational needs’ of both high schools would be necessary.

Since the letter was distributed on May 11, around 100 people have responded. The majority opted for Lysander High School or Lysander Community High School, with 27 per cent preferring other names.

Those objecting opted for no change or suggested Poulton, Fearnhead, Insall or Phoenix.

Deputy head teacher Drew Rowlands said a name with a geographical link would defeat the objective of serving two communities.

He said: “In identifying a new name, we wanted to reflect the educational vision for the school while retaining a link to the area’s heritage. There are significant changes that are taking place within society and particularly education.”

He added that Lysander was chosen because the RAF plane of the same name demonstrated a successful collaboration between the Army and the air force and meant freedom or liberation.

Mr Rowlands said education frees individuals, giving pupils a greater choice over their future, while learning liberates by offering continuous opportunities and new experiences.

But a petition spearheaded by a parent was presented to teachers at a governors meeting yesterday, Wednesday.

More than 260 people have joined a Facebook social network group opposing the change.

One parent who wishes to remain anonymous, said education was the most important thing and scrapping the name Padgate would not change where the building was located.

Another parent said: “Introducing a new uniform gradually is a good thing because it stops parents spending unnecessarily but has anybody given any thought to how the year sevens will feel when they start school in September?

“Starting a new school is nerve-wracking enough but making them wear a different uniform to the other four years will only draw more attention to them.”

He said he liked the new logo but failed to understand why it resembled wings when the idea for Phoenix High had been dismissed as unlucky when associated with education.

As the Guardian went to press, there had been no requests from the public to discuss the matter despite offers by senior staff.