SEVERAL Purbeck schools could be saved from closure as councillors consider new proposals in the controversial education shake-up.

Dorset County Council decided in July to press ahead with plans to adopt a two-tier system in the district in a bid to eradicate more than 1,000 surplus places.

Concerned parents flocked to a string of drop-in sessions during September and October to give their views on how schools in Swanage and Wool could be saved from the axe.

Following the public feedback, new proposals will go before Dorset County Council’s community overview committee on Tuesday.

They are: * Both St Mary’s Catholic in Wool and Wool CE VA first school to become primary schools.

* Both St Mary’s RC and Swanage first to become primary schools, and the amalgamation of St Mark’s CE and St George’s CE to create a new primary on the middle school site.

* All four Swanage first schools to become primaries, with St Mark’s moving to the middle school site.

John England, the county council’s head of learning and school improvement, said he hoped the new proposals addressed the concerns raised by the sweeping changes to Purbeck’s education system.

He said: “During the first round of consultation earlier this year, a number of concerns were raised by residents in Swanage and Wool – particularly around parental preference.

“We believe the new proposals address many of these concerns and reduce the majority of surplus places – giving the whole of Purbeck a school system that will thrive for many years to come.”

Councillors will also be asked on Tuesday to recommend the authority continues with its proposal to create a single secondary school in Wareham, as well as to publicly consult on which pyramid of schools Bere Regis School should reside in.

The committee’s comments will then go to the cabinet on December 2 when a final decision will be made on the recommendations.

If given the green light, the council will hold public consultation on the new options in the new year.