"I HAVE listened." That is the message from Southampton's education boss Councillor Ann Milton who will today announce her final proposals for a public consultation on the future of the city's secondary education system.

The Cabinet member for children's services and learning will add a new proposal for the merger of Millbrook and Oaklands Community schools on the Millbrook site.

Originally it had been proposed that Millbrook close in 2008 and its students transfer to Oaklands, or that a merger of the two schools take place on the Oaklands site.

Millbrook's head teacher Tony Cotton is delighted that his school's site in Green Lane is still in the running.

"I am very pleased that Cllr Milton has considered the use of the Millbrook site for a future school," he said.

"I would like to thank everyone who called for a fair and transparent consultation including the governors, parents, pupils and local community."

Cllr Milton says she has also taken on board views expressed from the Woolston community who want to save their school site from closure.

An additional proposal put forward is to close both Grove Park and Woolston schools and open a new mixed school on the Woolston site, or at an alternative location within the community.

A proposal to close Grove Park remains among the options put forward.

Cllr Milton said: "The secondary school review is arguably the most important project happening in the city at this time, so it is vital that we get it right.

"During the past six months I have made it my duty to listen to all of the arguments and suggestions that have been presented by parents, school staff, colleagues and, most importantly, the children themselves.

"This has already been reflected in the proposals. I have now decided to take on board the recommendations of the cross-party scrutiny panel would like to thank it for its valuable input to the secondary education review process."

A period of public consultation on the review, designed to remove around 1,000 surplus places, will begin in September.