WORCESTER'S last remaining infant and junior schools could be combined to create one primary school under plans to be discussed this week.

Worcestershire County Council wants to merge Northwick Manor Infants' School and Northwick Manor Junior School and is now seeking to carry out a consultation with the public.

The Northwick Manor schools are the only remaining separate infant and junior schools in the city following a recent reorganisation by the council.

Patricia Hird, headteacher at the junior school, said: "There are many positive points to becoming a primary school and I think when parents have all the information they will see this.

"Children will not have the stress of having to move schools and parents will not have to reapply to get their children in to the junior school. People need to trust the people making the decisions to do the right thing."

Tessa Richardson, headteacher at the infants' school said she did not wish to comment on the possible merger at this stage.

The county council's cabinet is being asked to give the go-ahead for a consultation on the plans to take place when it meets on Thursday.

If the cabinet agrees, a consultation will then take place in June and July and results will be presented back to the council in September.

Should the cabinet then agree to the merger it is likely to take place ready for the start of the new school year in September 2008.

In his report to the cabinet, Richard Hubbard, director of children's services, said: "The headteacher of the junior school has confirmed her intention to retire in July 2007. This provides an opportunity for the council to consider the future organisation of these two schools."

He added: "Clearly, support for the pupils and parents will be paramount to ensure that there is minimum disruption. All children currently on the roll at the two schools would be able to remain in the proposed primary school until they moved or transferred to a high school."

The Northwick Manor schools are both on the same site and are physically joined. Northwick Manor Infants' School admits pupils aged four to seven years, with the majority transferring to the junior school at the age of seven, until the age of 11.

The catchment area for the primary schools will remain the same if the merger goes ahead.