A NEW primary school will be created in Tadley after Hampshire County Council's Cabinet gave the go-ahead for the amalgamation of Burnham Copse infant and junior schools.

The current schools, in Newchurch Road, will be replaced with a 210-place primary school with pre-school provision.

The proposal for amalgamating the two schools was originally put forward by governing bodies at both schools and has been widely supported by staff and parents.

Helen Barden, headteacher of the infant school and acting headteacher of the junior school, welcomed the decision.

"We are very positive about what is planned. We have an excellent team of staff who have been working closely together for several months now.

"We want the best resources for a primary school for the 21st century."

The original proposal to merge the two schools was a response to declining pupil numbers, a problem being seen across the county and country as a whole.

In January, there were 77 surplus places at each of the infant school and junior schools, and these figures were expected to rise.

The figures amount to 45 per cent of the infant school's places and 32 per cent of places at the junior school.

When asked about inevitable job losses when the new school is created, Miss Barden said: "We are realistic and realise that there could be difficult and challenging times in the future."

The new school will be created by remodelling the existing junior school building - a project that could be part-funded by the sale of the infant school site.

The county council will now carry out a feasibility study and the findings of this will be presented to the county council Cabinet, along with a capital funding strategy, in March.

Councillor Ken Thornber, leader of the county council, said: "I believe that a new primary school is the best possible outcome for all concerned."

First published: Thursday, December 29, 2005