The 10 students were firm in their belief should the merger go ahead the negative consequences would be felt while they complete their crucial final years of schooling.

“This will disrupt us for the rest of our schooling lives,” year 8 student Elise Townsend said.

“We won’t see the new school but we will have all the disadvantages as it is built, where are we going to go and what will happen to the Griffith High School students?”

As a year 8 student Elise and her peers would miss out on attending a merged school but would be schooled through change as it is built.

But it’s not only a problem for the students who miss out, according to year 7 student Jemimah Brooker who can’t bring herself to be excited about the prospect.

“I don’t think they understand, moving high schools as you are doing your HSC will be really distracting,” she said.

Even more disconcerting was the lack of detail behind the announcement.

The students said a spokesman from the Department of Education had come to their school, but they still didn’t have the answers they needed. “Fair enough it hasn’t been set in stone yet, but we have questions that need answers,” year 8 student Jenna Richards said.

“Our opinion needs to be taken more seriously, all other opinions are also important but this is our lives.”

The group raised further concerns presented by a larger school including, bullying, a lack of schooling choice, elective classes and excursions filling up, less chance of representing schools in sport and the potential loss of beloved teachers.

“What if it is all an experiment, the damage that is done will be to us,” year 7 student Jiordan Wallace-Chapman said.

Pictured in no particular order are Ben Mahlkneath, Jenna Richards, Niamh Wood, Elise Townsend, Molly Jones, Sophia Niederie, Chloe Whittaker, Mea Crossingham, Jiordan Wallace-Chapman and Jemimah Brooker.

- The Area News