EDUCATION bosses want to create 165 new reception school places in Southampton within the next five years because of rising birth rates.

They were today unveiling plans that could see existing primary schools enlarged while infant and junior schools are turned into primaries.

Ten schools in the city centre and Freemantle area are being targeted because they have the biggest demand for places due to a rising birth rate and more migrant families, particularly from Poland.

Schools affected are Banister Infant School, Bevois Town Primary, Foundry Lane Primary, Freemantle C of E, Maytree Infant and Nursery, Mount Pleasant Junior, Springhill RC Primary, St John’s Infant and Nursery, St Mark’s C of E Junior and St Mark’s C of E Primary.

Council bosses have £5.8m available from Government grants by 2011 to pay for refurbishing or extending the existing schools. None are to close.

At the council’s next Cabinet meeting on February 2 the council’s Cabinet member for education Councillor Peter Baillie is expected to agree to a consultation into the proposals that will include public meetings.

A final decision will be made in July on the proposals.