A SCHOOL will be forced to close for a day to allow voting to take place in an upcoming election, despite concerns over the impact on children’s education.

Mayflower High School, in Stock Road, Billericay, wrote to parents stating the decision to use the school as a polling station has left them with no option but to move to remote learning on May 5.

Due to safeguarding concerns over the school being open to the public, children will be told to stay at home.

In an email to parents, seen by the Echo, the school said a GCSE French speaking exam will still go ahead in another part of the school as planned despite the disruption.

Despite asking Basildon Council’s Electoral Services Team to seek alternatives and writing to Billericay MP John Baron for help, no alternative polling station has been found.

Billericay East ward councillor, Andrew Schrader, insisted the school’s needs must take priority.

He said: “I’ve written to the chief executive twice now telling him its not acceptable Mayflower continues to be made a polling station even though they’ve asked the council not to. To be fair I haven’t been able to come up with alternatives either but I did ask about a mobile polling station which we have used in other parts of the borough in the past.

“It’s a thorny issue but I have told officers they need to be stretching every sinew to try and find somewhere else. Frankly I think the school’s opinion on safeguarding trumps the electoral services opinion. He added: “Their view on this needs to be taken seriously even if they are being over-cautious. It is not ideal for students particularly after losing so many days of school to the pandemic.”

David Dadds, Mayor of Basildon and a ward councillor for the area, said the school had been used on polling day before with no issue.

He said: “I know a part of the school has ben set aside for polling day for a couple of decades at least. I’m not aware of any significant changes between now and then.

“It’s always been able to accommodate the electorate. Obviously we need to work with our schools to make sure any disruption is kept to a minimum.”

Tory Andrew Schrader, Liberal Democrat Laura Clark and Labour’s Peter Bunyan will contest the Billericay East ward on May 5.