Anger over merger bid

Controversial plans to merge three Stourport schools would be "a recipe for disaster" and lead to poorer exam results, parents fear.

Proposals to merge Lickhill Primary, Stourport Primary and Tan Lane First School on the Lickhill Middle School site are part of a county shake-up.

But parents have formed an action group to fight the scheme for the proposed new two-form-entry school.

The Stourport Parents Against the Merger group says the merger would raise security issues.

But Worcestershire County Council officials say although the merger scheme would reduce choice, the new school at Lickhill would provide excellent facilities.

If the go-ahead is given, the new school could open on September 1, 2010.

Members of the action group, including John Caldwell, aged 27, from Stourport, said in a statement today: "The majority of parents who responded to consultations were against the merger, yet the council has pressed ahead.

"On the whole, larger primary schools in Worcestershire show much poorer attainment for pupils in KS2 examinations than single form-of-entry schools in each of the last three years.

"Also Stourport would be faced with a less diverse system offering less choice.

"We believe the council will waste more council-tax payers money on a fruitless exercise if they continue to press ahead with this project.

"This money could be better spent creating two individual, local schools."

Councillor Stephen Clee, cabinet member for corporate services, said: "It makes great sense to rationalise the schools onto one site. We have duplication of resources at the moment."

The plan is set to be discussed Worcestershire County Council's cabinet on November 1.

During consultations 54 parents said they were against the merger and 29 were in favour.

By Sue Smith