COUNTY education chiefs have recommended a new first school to serve Church Hill North should be created at Ravens Bank First School.

Governors of Ravens Bank and Marlfield Farm first schools asked Worcestershire County Council to look at merging them because of drastically falling pupil numbers.

After discussing the plan with governors, staff, parents and the community, officers have advised county councillors to opt for a new school using Ravens Bank's current buildings.

The council's cabinet will meet on Thursday to discuss the issue.

Of those who responded formally to the consultation exercise, 74 per cent supported creating a new school on a single site.

Head of education policy Colin Weeden said: "The attitude of everyone connected with the schools has been exceptionally measured considering the emotions involved.

"It appears everyone has taken a pragmatic approach that focuses on ensuring all children in Church Hill North have a school that delivers a quality education.

"In terms of the siting of the new school, however, we were never in a position to keep everyone happy as there would always be a split over which school would be best.

"Having assessed both sites, we feel Ravens Bank offers the greater flexibility in the long run and have recommend Cabinet goes for that option."

Both schools were earmarked for closure in the Redditch Review of 1998 but their communities argued strongly against this, which led to them two being omitted from the final closures.

The consultation document also suggested a change in catchment areas for Church Hill to strengthen Moons Moat First School, which serves the estate's southern half. Fifty nine per cent backed this proposal.