THE closure of a popular Southampton school is back on the agenda as education bosses try to solve the problem of falling pupil numbers.

A proposal to shut Moorlands Infant is one of six options being put forward to cut the number of spare places in the Bitterne and Townhill Park area, due to falling birth rates.

Head teachers from Glenfield Infant, Beechwood Junior, Harefield Infant, Harefield Junior and Townhill Junior all called on the council to reconsider closing Moorlands, which currently has 97 pupils aged four to seven on roll, during a school places review.

Education bosses said it would be "unreasonable" not to include their views and have put the school's closure forward with a proviso that the building in Kesteven Way continue to be used for education and community use.

Moorlands parents' spokesman Jo Barnard said she is disappointed the fate of the school remains uncertain.

"I would like to think we are not going to have to take a backward step and make our case for turning the school into a primary all over again," she said.

She said campaigners, who persuaded the City Council's executive member for education Councillor Calvin Horner to keep the school open earlier this year, would continue their fight to save it.

Other options put forward include amalgamating Beechwood Junior with Glenfield Infant and merging Harefield Infant and Junior schools.

Townhill Infant School could also be forced to admit fewer pupils under the plans, which are to be put out to public consultation.

Public meetings for teachers, parents, governors and residents will be held in several weeks' time.

Andrew Hind, Southampton City Council's head of resources, planning and policy, said: "The fact of the matter is that there is no painless solution in addressing surplus places."