A TEN-YEAR-OLD dyslexic boy has written to Durham County Council (DCC) and MPs asking them not to close his school.

Ben Hogarth, of Rookhope, in Weardale, was diagnosed with the condition, which causes problems with reading, writing and spelling, last summer.

However, thanks to the one-to-one support from his teachers at Rookhope Primary School, he is doing well with his studies.

In his letter, Ben, a Year 5 pupil, said: “I am writing to tell you the rumors of posible closure of my school.

“There are lots of reasons why think the school should stay open.

“My teachers have helped me lots I think they have more one to me time with me.”

He added: “I have friends of all ages frome Year 6 and below.

“The school is in my villige so I dont have to travel on public transport when the weather is bad my mum can’t drive, I love my school friends and theachers so shutting the school down will be bad not just for me, my friends to.

“So please dont close the school.”

As well making his plea to the head of education at Durham County Council, Caroline O’Neill, Ben has also sent his letter to MP Pat Glass and the secretary of state for education, MP Nicky Morgan.

The county council is currently deciding whether to hold a consultation to close both Rookhope and Forest-of-Teesdale Primary School, in Teesdale.

When Ms O’Neill attended a meeting with parents and governor’s at Rookhope School on Monday, March 21, she said the council wanted to safeguard the future of small schools.

In a previous statement, the council said there were “significant educational benefits for children being taught in larger schools”.

However, Ben’s mother, Andrea Hogarth, said her son would not get a better education than at Rookhope.

“Since Ben was diagnosed they have been right on top of it and he’s got his own individual learning plan set up,” the mother-of-two said.

“He would not get as much one-to-one support that he requires in a bigger school.”

School governor, Ruth Nattrass, who is leading the Save Rookhope Primary School campaign, said: “Ben gave the letter to me as he knew we are trying to our save our school and he wanted to do something himself to help.

“It's interesting that I have been emailing the DCC cabinet members on a daily basis but am yet to receive a reply.

“Yet when I forwarded Ben's letter to them, they had the decency to reply and not ignore a child.”