GOVERNORS at Radcliffe Infant School and Radcliffe Junior School are seeking assurances in the wake of plans to merge.

Education bosses formally recommended at last Thursday's (April 11) executive meeting to close the two Coronation Road schools and create a new 350-place primary school in the two existing buildings.

The merger plan is part of a borough-wide shake-up affecting 10 primary schools because of a forecasted drop in school populations.

Demand for places across the borough has already fallen by 1,000 in four years and worse is predicted. Bury will miss out on £632,000 this academic year alone because of unfilled places.

Councillors on the executive committee met last Thursday night, but delayed making a final decision on a programme of proposed closures and mergers, deferring it for consideration by the lifelong learning scrutiny and review panel.

Unlike some of the other affected schools, the two Radcliffe schools have not launched campaigns of opposition, but have called for certain assurances.

The governing body of the infant school said: "At present, the assumption seems to be that this school will take this momentous step with almost no information about what it will actually mean to staff and governors once the decision is taken. This is an unrealistic expectation and the LEA needs to take steps to reassure those affected."

And the governing body of the junior school feels that some thought must be given to how the two buildings will function as one establishment in the short term.

It said: "We would argue that the early years of the merger will be crucially important to the longer term success and effectiveness of the proposed primary school and answers are necessary before staff and governors can give unqualified support."

At the executive meeting, Coun Derek Boden said: "I understand some of these proposals are painful, but we have to be fair to schoolchildren across the entire borough. Sending it to scrutiny will set us on the next step to a very thorough examination."

And executive member for lifelong learning Coun Steve Perkins said: "In the short term it would be very pleasant to do nothing, but the ramifications would soon bite all schools.

"If we don't take action on these proposals, we'll just have to come back with other proposals for other schools."

The scrutiny and review panel are now expected to hold a meeting next Wednesday to consider the recommendations.