PARENTS have hit out over proposals to merge a junior and an infant school into one primary school.

Hampshire County Council (HCC) has written to parents of pupils of Park View Infant and Park View Junior Schools, both in Pinkerton Road, outlining a plan to re-organise the schools in to one primary school from January 2018.

The proposal has left some parents concerned and angry.

Amanda Page, who has two children at Park View Junior and one at Park View Infant, said: “If I wanted to send my children to a primary school, I would have applied to go to Chiltern Primary. So I am worried about how it is going to affect my children and their school work.”

Park View Infant School was placed in special measures by Ofsted in May this year after an inspection at the end of March. However, parents have argued that headteacher Cheryl Hawkins has not been given enough time to improve the school since she has only been in position since January this year.

Stacey Glassock has one child currently at Park View Junior School, one going to the junior school from Park View Infant School this autumn and another going in to the infant school in September. She said: “My daughter starts in September and I did not sign her up to be at a primary school as I am concerned about bullying due to the wide age range of kids at a primary school.”

Park View Junior School was rated ‘good’ by Ofsted in March this year.

It is anticipated both school sites will be used.

A joint statement from Nadeana Ritchie and Jan Earney, chairs of governors at the infant and junior school respectively, read:”A through primary school offers the potential for there to be one governing body, with one leadership team, that is focused on creating a joined up curriculum from Year R to Year 6.

“It offers an opportunity to harmonise many aspects of provision such as the approaches to teaching and learning, assessment, behaviour management and support for children with special needs. We do not anticipate there would be any changes to where children are taught.

“There is no evidence that more bullying takes place in all through primary schools.

“We agree that the timing of the infant school’s Ofsted inspection was unfortunate but that is not a matter the governing bodies have any control over.

“Largely, the potential change has been well received by parents who have contributed to the consultation so far.

"We would urge all parents to use the channels open to them during the consultation to express their views.”

A consultation is running until August 1.

Responses to the consultation can be made via: hants.gov.uk/aboutthecouncil/haveyoursay/consultations/parkviewinfantandjunior email strategicplanningunit@hants.gov.uk.