TWO Bracknell schools are one step closer to combining after the council decided to move plans to the next stage.

Holly Spring Infant and Holly Spring Junior School in Bullbrook could become one school after an initial six week consultation showed 96 per cent of respondents supported the plans.

Pupils were asked for their thoughts on the possibility of the schools merging and their concerns included “I’m worried about joint playtimes”, “I don’t think it’s right – if the Juniors run around they could knock over the little ones”, and “we might need to get rid of teachers”.

Only one job loss is predicted, as the joint school would only require one headteacher rather than two.

However the consultation read: “It is envisaged that many roles would continue largely unchanged.

“There would probably be some changes to the structure of senior leadership and administrative posts in the school.”

Pupils also shared their hopes for the new school, and told the consultation they were excited for a “bigger sports day”, to “do more things together” and to “meet new people”.

A four week formal consultation has now been given the go ahead by the executive member for children, young people and learning, councillor Dr Gareth Barnard.

A report outlining the proposals read: “an amalgamated school receives a lower budget allocation than the existing Infant and Junior schools but there are consequential savings from an amalgamation.

“Governors are aware of the anticipated financial impact and a future amalgamation would result in the new primary school receiving comparable funding to other similar sized Bracknell Forest primary schools.”

The plans would see the creation of a new primary school at the current Bullbrook site, meaning the Junior school would close and the Infant and Nursery School’s age range would be extended from 4-7 year olds to 4-11 year olds.

Almost half of all respondents supported extending the age range of the Infant and Nursery as one of four options suggested to parents, children, governors, teachers and the wider community.

Those in support commented that the merger was “in the best interests of the children”, “easier for parents” and many added that they were pleased with the Ofsted ratings of the Infant and Nursery, which was rated as ‘good’, compared to the Junior school, which ‘requires improvement’.

The Junior school’s standards are predicted to “remain below national average.” A report outlining the proposals also noted that “based on progress measures from 2016-2018, Holly Spring Junior is judged to be a coasting school” whereas the Infant and Nursery school was rated “good” by schools regulator Ofsted.

Only 3 per cent supported the closure of the Infant and Nursery with the extension of the age range of the Junior School.

However, three people objected to the plans completely, with one commenting they “loved the fact they (the children) transition up to junior school and were made to feel grown up”.

More than a quarter of those who answered the consultation said they favoured closing down both schools and building a new primary school, which would open in 2020, with one saying the schools are “vastly different schools, it would be beneficial to start afresh completely.”

A final decision on the combination of the schools is expected by late January 2019.

If it is approved the combined school would be ready for 1 September 2019.