PUBLIC consultation has begun over plans to cut nearly 200 places at six East Dorset schools, plus one in Christchurch, Wareham and another in Swanage.

Education bosses at County Hall want to reduce admission intakes at the first, primary, middle and secondary schools in response to falling pupil numbers, which is a national problem.

Across the UK hundreds of schools are cutting their admissions numbers, and some are even being forced to close, because thousands less children are now in the education system - especially at primary level.

Last year there were half a million surplus primary school places in England equating to 12 per cent of total capacity, says Teachernet.

And according to local authorities' own forecasts, by 2010 the number of primary pupils will drop by a further 500,000 - 13 per cent of the current pupil population.

Dorset's head of pupil and school improvement, Harry Turner, said: "The reduction in school numbers is to deal with the fall in the number of school-age children in Dorset.

"Reducing admission numbers helps schools to better manage their individual situations."

This would allow governing bodies at schools to plan more effectively for their organisational, curriculum and budgetary needs, a council spokesman added. Ferndown First currently has an admission number of 90, but the proposals would see this cut to 60.

Oakhurst First in West Moors would go from 50 to 30, Stower Provost Primary in Gillingham from 24 to 21, West Moors Middle 120 to 96, Ferndown Upper 344 to 320 and Sturminster Newton High 150 to 120.

Admission numbers at Somerford Primary in Christchurch would drop from 75 to 60, Swanage First 60 to 30, and Lady St Mary First in Wareham 48 to 30.

Any person living within the designated areas served by these schools has until June 28 to object to the plans in writing to the Office of the Schools Adjudicator in Darlington.