A major survey on the future of primary schools in Colchester is about to start.

The town currently has more than 1,000 empty places in its 38 primary, infant and junior schools -but pupils are still being taught in portable classrooms.

Essex County Council could reduce surplus places in three ways; by cutting the amount of temporary accomodation, merging infant and junior schools or closing schools down.

Money which could be spent on vital books, equipment and staff is currently being used to maintain the surplus places.

Essex County Council is conducting a review of primary education in Colchester this summer and public consultation is due to start on May 5.

No specific proposals have been drawn up yet, and the county council is to ask school governors, teachers, parents and residents what they think would be the best move.

A series of "guiding principles" have been drawn up which will form the basis of the review.

They suggest schools should be as near as possible to children's homes, pupils should not be required to cross busy roads to lessons, temporary accomodation should be taken out of use and parents should have the right to send their children to a school close to their homes.

Any changes are unlikely to come in to effect before September 2001.

County education spokesman Mike Barnett said: "Essex is a rapidly growing county and we have to continue to review whether school places are in the right locations when they are needed.

"At the same time, if we can do something about the number of relocatable classrooms, we will do, but that requires Government approval and cash."

Members of the Essex education committee and county councillors will attend the consultation meetings which will take place at various schools in Colchester between May 5 and 27.

Parents in the town will be advised of the details in April.

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