D-day to have say on future of schools

However, education bosses at Southampton City Council will still consider written responses to The Redbridge/Millbrook Primary Schools review after the deadline has passed.

During the last six weeks a public consultation has taken place looking at six possible options to remove a total of 400 surplus places across the area.

Population forecasts show that by 2008, one in five classroom places will be empty because of falling birthrates across the city.

Education bosses have proposed six possible options for the future of Mansel Infant and Junior schools, Redbridge Primary, Mason Moor Primary, Newlands Primary, Tanners Brook Infant and Tanners Brook Junior schools.

These include the closure of the 115-pupil Mansel Infant and 155-pupil Junior schools, which together have 150 spare places.

Other proposals include amalgamating the two schools into a primary as well as reducing pupil numbers at Mason Moor Primary, Newlands Primary, Tanners Brook Infant and Tanners Brook Junior Schools.

Both Newlands Primary and Redbridge Primary were last year awarded more than £5m of government money to be rebuilt.

One of the council's proposals involves rebuilding Redbridge primary on another site - opposed by many teachers, governors and parents who want to remain on the existing site in Redbridge Road.

Hundreds of parents turned out to four public meetings, pleading with education bosses to leave their schools alone.

Rita Baker, head teacher at Tanners Brook Infant School, said she would prefer the school to continue admitting 90 pupils in each year group, rather than reduce the admission number to 60.

"The bigger the intake, the more capacity the school has to take on special needs children and spread them across the year group."

Mason Moor Primary head teacher David Martindale has also spoken out against reducing the admission number at his school, arguing that it would mean some parents having to travel a greater distance to take their children to school.

Parents at the Mansel schools have formed the Mansel United for Primary Action Group, in support of the merger of Mansel Infant and Mansel Junior schools.

Andrew Hind, Southampton's Head of Policy and Planning for Education at Southampton City Council, said all six proposals were valid for consideration.

A decision will be taken on May 23 on a final proposal that will be the subject of a second consultation.

Any change would not be introduced before September 2006.

Comments should be sent to Karen Hanspal, School Places Team, Education Services, 4th Floor, Froshiber House, Nelson Gate, Southampton, SO15 1BZ.

The School Organisation Committee, with representatives from the local education authority, governing bodies and churches, will make a final decision on plans to remove 361 surplus places across the Bitterne and Townhill Park area on May 12. The council has recommended Harefield Infant and Junior amalgamate to form a primary, Moorlands Infant is turned into a primary and Beechwood Junior school's admission number is reduced.

THE SIX PROPOSALS - REDBRIDGE/MILLBROOK REVIEW:

1) Schools stay the same with early years provision taking up surplus space.

2) Mansel Infant and Junior school turned into a primary; Redbridge Primary to be rebuilt; Newlands Primary to be rebuilt and its pupil numbers reduced; Mason Moor to have reduced pupil numbers.

3) Mansel Infant and Junior schools to be turned into a primary; Newlands Primary to be rebuilt; Redbridge Primary to be rebuilt; Tanners Brook Infant and Tanners Brook Junior to reduce in size.

4) Mansel Infant and Junior schools to close; Newlands Primary to be rebuilt; Redbridge Primary to be rebuilt.

5) Mansel Infant and Junior schools to close; Newlands Primary to be rebuilt; Redbridge Primary to be rebuilt and expanded; Tanners Brook Infant and Junior Schools to have reduced pupil numbers.

6) Schools invited to set out their own proposals for removing surplus places.