TWO independent schools in Worcestershire are to merge from September next year, it has been announced.

Malvern College Prep School (MCP) and the Downs School at Colwall will be coming together to form a new co-educational prep school to be called the Downs, Malvern College Preparatory School (TDMP).

A major investment programme is planned to modernise the boarding accommodation, sports, classroom and teaching facilities, which subject to planning permission, will be complete in 2008.

Alastair Ramsay, headteacher at the Downs will take on the task of running the new school.

He said: "This is a wonderful opportunity to create a strong, vibrant co-educational prep school, building on the close ties the two schools have established over many years and the family approach they have always adopted to pastoral care, nurturing and building the self-confidence of children in a family environment, coupled with high academic, sporting, artistic and musical results.

"Both MCP and the Downs are schools that enjoy great success and I am confident the new school will set new standards in preparatory education in this country."

Lord MacLaurin, chairman of Malvern College Council, echoed Mr Ramsay's enthusiasm. "Malvern College has long enjoyed an enviable reputation," he said.

"We are sure that many pupils will continue to come on to the college from the new prep school, and we are all excited about the possibilities which the future holds."

TDMP will be a fully co-educational prep school and will welcome full and part-time boarders and day girls and boys aged from two-and-a-half to 13 years.

It will also have a nursery. The new school will be at Colwall, the existing site of the Downs School set in 55 acres of grounds. It is expected that MCP's current site will be sold in due course.

Peter Moody, headteacher of MCP, who is retiring at the end of July 2008, said: "I have enjoyed my nine years at MCP enormously and look forward to working with Alastair in my final year to help to establish the new school on the lovely Colwall site."