CONTROVERSIAL plans to merge Worcester's only remaining infant and junior schools look set to get the go ahead.

Worcestershire County Council's cabinet is being recommended to approve the merger of the Northwick Manor schools when it meets on Friday.

Officers want to close the schools on August 31, 2008 and open a new, three-form entry primary school on the same site on September 1.

But the plans have caused controversy with parents and governors who claim the merger would make the school too large.

The Rev Stuart Currie, chairman of governors at the infants school, said: "The governors at the infants' school do not dispute the viability of three-form entry primary schools, but the more we have examined the LA's arguments in favour of amalgamation, the more convinced we have become that the educational case for amalgamation has not been made."

Richard Hubbard, director of children's services, said it was the council's policy to look at amalgamating junior and infant schools that share a site when one of the headteachers leaves.

Patricia Hird, headteacher of Northwick Manor Junior School, retired in July and the authority has been consulting with staff, parents, governors and the community since June on a potential merger.

Mr Hubbard said: "The move towards a possible primary school was not made because of poor performance, both schools are serving their schools well and it was understandable that some respondents expressed the desire to leave things as they were. However both schools recognised the importance of continuity and progression and that for paired schools such as these, liaison is the critical factor.

"I'd like to thank everyone who responded as these responses enabled the issues be established and understood. The consultation was conducted in a calm, reasoned way, to the credit of everyone involved."

If the cabinet agrees to the move, the county council will apply to the Secretary of State for Education to approve closing the two schools without having to consider closing just one and expanding the other.

A final decision would then be made by cabinet in February.