"KEEP it fair!" That is the plea from pupils, teachers, governors and parents at Millbrook Community School who are calling for a fair public consultation to decide their school's fate.

Pupils have painted pillowcases in brightly-coloured letters and made banners during their spare time to get their message across.

Many have also written to Southampton City Council's education bosses to tell them how much they like attending the 504-pupil school in Green Lane.

Together, the school community is calling for a merger of Millbrook and Oaklands schools on the Millbrook site as part of a shake-up of the city's education system.

This would mean both schools closing and a new school opening on the Millbrook site, with all staff having to reapply for their jobs.

So far the two recommended proposals are to close Millbrook in 2008 and transfer its students to Oaklands.

Alternatively, both schools could close and a new school open on the Oaklands site.

Supporters of Millbrook say the option of having a school on the Millbrook site should be included in a public consultation in the autumn.

Proposals Although it was part of a consultation earlier this year, it has not been included in the recommended proposals set by Southampton's Cabinet member for children's services and learning Councillor Ann Milton.

Now staff, pupils and parents hope their voices will be heard and Millbrook's site can be considered.

The school's head teacher Tony Cotton said: "Throughout the review, everyone connected with Millbrook has understood that our school will cease to exist and two schools will become one. However, the current proposals, while reflecting our concerns, don't go far enough.

"As acknowledged by Cllr Milton, staff at Millbrook have worked their socks off, and all they want is to be able to put forward a case for the site at Green Lane to be used for the new institution.

"They really do believe the Green Lane site is worthy of consideration, because, at the very least, its size provides the opportunity and potential to grow a new school."

On the east of the city it is proposed to close Grove Park completely by 2010-11. Alternatively, both Grove Park and Woolston could close and a new mixed school open on the Grove Park site.

Education bosses want to remove about 1,000 places due to declining birth rates.

Cllr Milton will announce her final proposals for a public consultation next Monday.

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