CONTROVERSIAL plans to “merge” two Hampshire schools are due to be debated at a meeting tonight.

Under the scheme the two primary schools at Burley and nearby Sopley will become a federation, sharing an executive head teacher and the same board of governors.

The plan has come under fire from some of the parents, who claim it is being rushed through.

One said: “If the merger goes ahead, it will happen in May leaving many parents feeling that the process is being forced upon us too quickly and without due thought.

"Why May? Why not September?

The scheme has been defended in a joint statement issued by the two schools.

It says: “Recent changes to education legislation and to the ways schools are funded have prompted many schools to investigate and adopt new ways of working together.

“The governors of Burley and Sopley primary schools have been investigating how the schools could benefit from working together in a formal partnership.

“This is not a merger into one school. Each school remains separate with its own buildings, identity and character, budget and admissions criteria.”

If the scheme goes ahead a new organisation called The Federation of Burley and Sopley Primary Schools will come into force on May 16.

The statement says the new system would make both schools stronger by creating greater financial stability, enhancing their ability to retain high quality staff and developing opportunities for further improvement.

It adds: “The governors strongly believe that federation would enable both schools to move towards our shared vision of an outstanding education for our children by sharing good practice, finding ways to work more efficiently so that our resources are more focused on teaching and learning.