COUNCILLORS will today (Thursday) consider recommendations to close two primary schools as predictions suggest primary places will fall by a fifth over the next 20 years.

A working group set-up to evaluate the situation has made recommendations to close two Tyldesley area schools -- Mosley Common St John's CE and Shakerley CE.

But education chiefs stress no decisions have been made and consultations will continue.

Although recommendations include reducing minimum yearly intake numbers at Garrett Hall, Astley St Stephen's and Boothstown Holy Family, Wigan's Director of Education Bob Clark is being asked to liaise with the Church of England and governors at Tyldesley St George's Central to enlarge the school to take more pupils.

Lifelong Learning Panel councillors will consider recommendations after investigations into the problems of surplus school places.

Fall in birth rate

Reports into the need for a primary and early years review highlighted a 26pc fall in birth rate in Tyldesley between 1993/4 and 2000/01. And despite more homes being built in the area in the past 10 years the demand for primary places hasn't increased.

Concerns mainly centred around the future of Mosley Common, Shakerley and Hindsford St Anne's schools but St Anne's could be safe.

Reviewers said it was obvious Hindsford CE, Mosley Common St John's and Shakerley schools were important to their communities but noted The Early Years Development and Childcare Partnership felt no further early years places were required in the Tyldesley area.

Figures showed that Shakerley was operating with only 66pc of its potential intake attending with children from the Shakerley area children also attending Hindsford CE and St George's schools. Only two pupils at the Lancaster Avenue school did not live in Shakerley.

This year 14 pupils from Shakerley went to alternative schools and only 10 from the estate plumped for their nearest school.

At Mosley Common the school had just 63pc of its potential intake but had nine pupils from outside the immediate area. The report said under 100 non-Catholic primary age pupils lived in Mosley Common.

The report said: "No evidence suggests they can increase or even maintain current numbers."