ONE of Blackburn's successful high schools could be split into two smaller ones amid concerns that there is not enough choice for parents, it was revealed today.

The chair of governors at Witton Park High School in Buncer Lane wants to reverse the government's trend to make secondary schools bigger.

Jack Fairless, who is also a former Blackburn Labour councillor, believes discipline will slip, teachers will no longer know their pupils and parent choice will be eroded.

And he is determined to use the retirement of the school's head teacher John Gosling, expected this Christmas, to propose turning the North and South wings of the school into two separate entities with different budgets and staff.

He said: "There is a clear link between large school size and worse discipline. Mergers have always been about administrative convenience and cost effectiveness rather than what is best for the children.

"I bet most headteachers, if they were totally honest, wouldn't know all their staff let alone all the children. This is a clean sweep because it doesn't disturb anybody.

"We are moving in the wrong direction and action needs to be taken."

The retired teacher is expecting to drum up support from fellow governors but is prepared to face a flat refusal from the local education authority - Blackburn with Darwen Council - given that the school has recently been awarded Specialist Business and Enterprise College status.

His long-term vision already has the backing of other retired teachers who oppose the drive to expand successful schools. Darwen, for example, could become one of the first areas in the country to have a City Academy which could have as many as 2,000 pupils on its role.

Retired Blackburn-based teacher Morris Gavan agreed. She said: "The evidence of smaller being better has been self-evident for years. It is like smaller class sizes. Discipline issues disappear because children can not hide in the anonymity of a larger student population."

Dave Hollings, executive member for education, said: "The government's thrust is to let good schools expand because they are popular. It is also about letting schools grow so they can offer more subjects and specialisms. Parent choice is expressed by swopping between schools."

Harry Devonport, assistant director of education, said: "Smaller secondary schools struggle to provide the full range of curriculum and enrichment opportunities that larger schools can."