Talks held over school plans

Both schools are being affected by falling pupil numbers

Plans to amalgamate two primary schools on Teesside could get the go-ahead this week.

Redcar and Cleveland Council is due to discuss proposals to close St Andrew's RC Primary School and its next door neighbour, St Peter's RC Primary.

Plans include the building of a new school ready for September next year.

Both schools have a 210-pupil capacity - with St Andrew's on 202 and St Peter's on 149.

Those figures are expected worsen over the next five years.

Further objections

However, neither school is big enough to take all the pupils, so extra accommodation would be needed at either of the current sites.

But opponents of the plan are concerned that if amalgamation takes place, both schools could lose their prestigious beacon status.

Councillor Steve Kay, cabinet member for education, said it was likely there would be a lot more debate on the matter before any decisions were rubberstamped.

He said: "If there are further objections there will be another period of statutory consultation then the issue would be decided by the school organisation committee."

He added: "There is a long way to go on this one and there will be plenty of chance for people to put forward their opinions."