TWO Worcester city schools have moved closer to merging, after Worcestershire County Council approved a plan to consult with staff, governors and parents.

The authority's cabinet agreed that consultation should start at Ronkswood Infants School and Ronkswood Junior School.

The move comes after the infant school headteacher, Janet Cope, announced she would retire at the end of this academic year.

Any merger into a single primary school would come during the summer break.

Pupil numbers at the schools, based on the same site in St Albans Close, have been falling in recent years. They have a total of around 120 spare places.

Education director, Julien Kramer told yesterday's meeting the decision was being made for educational, not financial reasons.

"It's a very gentle change if there is agreement between the two parties. I believe we have got that in this case," added cabinet member for education, Councillor June Longmuir.

Before the meeting Adrian Ragbourne, chairman of governors at Ronkswood Infants School, said he believed the board were undecided whether to offer full support.

"The majority of governors agreed with going forward to consultation, because a number of staff and people connected to the school wanted to talk to colleagues before making a decision," he said.

"We've made tremendous progress in the past two years and clearly any change has to be a positive one. If it is we will look at embracing and supporting it and that is what the consultation will find out."

Consultation will begin on Friday, October 1, and end on Friday, November 12.

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