December 20th 1982, the first Monday of the school Christmas holidays. At a meeting of the London Borough of Ealing's Education Sub-Commitee a motion to close ELTHORNE HIGH SCHOOL in Hanwell was carried by the casting vote of the chairman, Mrs June Shipton.

By the end of the holidays the pupils, parents and staff were mobilising for a campaign to Keep Elthorne High! The Council meeting where the decision was to be ratified was heralded by a mass protest outside, and on the Saturday prior to that 3rd year pupil Samantha Fry organised a protest march from Hanwell to the Town Hall.