LETTERS have been sent out to parents of pupils at Harefield Infant School after education bosses decided to close it.

The 180-pupil school in Yeovil Chase, which currently has 150 pupils on roll, is to be amalgamated with Harefield Junior School next door.

The new primary will be built on the existing junior school site, as previously reported in the Daily Echo.

Head teacher Shirley Lewis said staff, governors and parents were upset by the decision to amalgamate the two schools.

"We are all very upset," she said. "Our warm ethos, excellent working relationships across the school and with parents makes the school very special for our children."

She said that most of the staff had worked together for more than ten years to make the school a success.

"Our children continue to make excellent progress from their entry into Year R until assessments are made at the end of Year 2," she added.

Sarah Morrison, parent governor, said: "We are also upset to think that our beautiful sensory play trail, that has been developed over several years and is a haven for our children, is also under threat."

In order to reduce a total of 361 surplus places across the city, Southampton's education bosses have also agreed to turn the 180-place Moorlands Infant School into a 210-place primary and to reduce the number of places at Beechwood Junior from 360 to 240.

A statutory six-month consultation is due to begin later this month, where schools, parents and governors can raise any objections.

If they do, the school organisation committee, with representatives from the local education authority, governing bodies and churches, will make a final decision.

However, if they cannot agree, a government-appointed school adjudicator will make a final ruling.

The final changes will come into force in September 2006.