A MERGER between two neighbouring Worcester schools is likely to move a step closer this week after education officers supported the move.

Worcestershire County Council's cabinet will discuss proposals to amalgamate Warndon Infants' and Warndon Junior schools at a meeting this week. Officers recommend councillors combine the two Edgeworth Close schools, in Warndon, to form a new 420-place all-through primary school, with a nursery department attached.

The plans have been in the pipeline for months and recent public consultation at both schools brought a wide range of views on the issue.

The county council said that there would be educational benefits of having one headteacher and staff, allowing better tracking of pupil progress, and use of resources.

Warndon Junior School's board of governors support the merger.

However, many parents, especially at the infants' school, questioned the need for any change at all, commenting 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it'.

Warndon Infants' School governors also wrote to the county council opposing a merger, raising particular concern over the lack of proof of educational benefits.

Worcestershire County Council's cabinet will acknowledge the consultation responses, and decide whether or not to go ahead with the amalgamation tomorrow.

If councillors support officers' recommendation, statutory notices of closure would be approved. Both schools would close next summer and reopen as a single primary on September 1, 2006.