Parents of children at Friars Grove infant and junior schools have called for assurances from education bosses that any changes to their schools would bring improvements.

A packed infants school hall heard the proposal for the Friars Grove schools would mean a merger of the existing infants and juniors along with a reduction of 26 pupil places.

The amalgamated Friars Grove Primary School would use the existing buildings on the Upland Drive site with some remodelling and cater for 420 pupils.

If the plans went ahead the merged school would become operational in September 2001 although any building works would probably not take place until the year after.

Essex education boss Brian Catt assured parents there would be improvements to what were already excellent educational facilities for children.

"We have no concern about what is currently delivered here at Friars Grove and would certainly not want to bring in anything likely to fall apart," he said.

"There is always the potential to improve and to look afresh at the internal accommodation of the school and ways in which things could be changed which would help teachers."

The proposed merger of the Friars Grove schools is one of eight put forward for consultation as part of a package of changes to primary education across the Colchester area.

If all eight go ahead a total of £8 million will be released which education bosses can invest in new and replacement school facilities throughout the area.

A meeting is being held at Alderman Blaxill School in Colchester tonight over the shake-up for primary schools. It is specifically for parents whose children's schools are not directly affected by the plans.

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