SOUTHAMPTON residents are to get the chance to have their say on the future of secondary school education in the city.

Members of the public, including parents, governors and school staff, are being invited to a series of meetings due to be staged in Southampton which could change the face of secondary school provision.

City education bosses are looking to re-vamp secondary school provision for the 21st century.

They will be looking at the opportunities presented by specialist schools, extended schools and greater collaboration between schools.

They are looking at innovative ways to make the best use of up to 1,200 places which are predicted to be surplus to requirements across the 14 secondary schools by 2007-8.

The proposals include:

Reducing Chamberlayne Park School from 1,062 to 900 places to create opportunities for expanded community use.

Reducing Woodlands Community School from 1,050 to 750 to create opportunities to extend the well-established community focus of the school.

There are three options for Weston Park Boys' School, all involving reducing it to 750 places: to become a co-educational school; to remain a single-sex school but to become a "federation" school with Sholing Technology College, and to remain a boys' school and have a limited collaboration with Sholing Technology College.

Millbrook Community School to stay as a centre for 11 to 16-year-olds but also to collaborate with the college sector to develop a range of courses with a strong vocational emphasis for 14 to 19-year-olds.

A project in up to half of the secondary schools to fast-track Key Stage Three able pupils in two years on to a wider range of courses.

All schools gaining specialist status.

All secondary schools to gradually take on a higher community profile, providing space for community purposes.

MEETINGS FOR SCHOOL STAFF AND GOVERNORS:

- June 3 - 4pm Chamberlayne Leisure Centre, Weston Lane, Weston.

- June 4 - 4pm Woodlands Community School, Minstead Avenue, Harefield.

- June 5 - 4pm Millbrook Community School, Green Lane, Millbrook.

- June 9 - 4pm Sir James Matthews Building, Southampton Institute, Above Bar.

- June 10 - 4pm Oaklands Community School, Fairisle Road, Lordshill.

MEETINGS FOR PARENTS AND THE COMMUNITY:

- June 3 - 6.15pm Chamberlayne Leisure Centre, Weston Lane, Weston.

- June 4 - 6.15pm Woodlands Community School, Harefield.

- June 5 - 6.15pm Millbrook Community School, Green Lane, Millbrook.

- June 9 - 6.15pm Sir James Matthews Building, Southampton Institute, Above Bar.

- June 10 - 6.15pm Oaklands Community School, Fairisle Road, Lordshill.

Those who cannot make the meetings but would still like to register their opinion can get a form by calling City Information on 023 8083 4499.