EDUCATION experts are considering the option of closing three primary schools to reduce the high number of spare school places around Tyldesley.

In that area 10pc of primary school places are unfilled and closing Shakerley, St John's Mosley Common or Hindsford CE Primary Schools are among suggestions put forward by the Director of Education to reorganise the schools.

Shakerley CE Primary School has the highest number of spare places in the area as the school is only half-full.

While at St John's CE, Mosley Common 38pc of places are unfilled.

Hindsford CE is full in most year groups but its catchment area overlaps with St George's Central and Shakerley CE.

Uneven levels

Statistics show across Tyldesley primary schools there are uneven levels of pupil numbers. Schools such as Tyldesley Primary, Hindsford CE and Garrett Hall are over their standard numbers while more than seven pc of places at St George's Central and Boothstown's Holy Family RC are unfilled.

Wigan Council's education experts have stated the combined standard numbers in the area must be reduced from 358 to 270 and a public consultation will be carried out quizzing people on how they think excess places can be cut.

Another option could be to reduce standard intake numbers and accommodation in some schools.

Reasons behind the decline in pupil numbers include a drop in the birth rate, which fell by 26pc between 1993/94 to 2000/01 and parents opting to send children to schools in neighbouring areas.

However, calls have been made to develop Shakerley's focus on special needs and St John's important community role.

Shakerley governors would like surplus accommodation to be developed into a neighbourhood centre of excellence for early intervention, and they say community facilities could be expanded at the school.

The governors of St John's have stressed the school has played an important community role since the early 19th century that it intends to develop pre-school and wrap-around services in September.

The Manchester Diocesan Board of Education say all C of E schools should stay open.

In a letter to the council the board wrote: "We believe there are still compelling reasons, in both cases to do with social inclusion to continue to maintain St John's, Mosley Common and Shakerley CE Schools."

Alternative

The diocese has suggested alternative measures to deal with surplus numbers which include rationalising intake across all schools, removing temporary accommodation and retaining pupils at St John's Mosley Common who are lost to Salford.

Regarding Shakerley, the board wrote the recently started Nurture Group had enabled special needs pupils to work appropriately within mainstream classrooms.

"As this is already yielding results in an area demonstrating real difficulties and problems, we believe it should be seen a resource for the town and be a focus of special needs provision."