WORRIED parents are concerned children will lose out if plans to re-organise Poole's school system go ahead.

Borough of Poole has just finished consulting on the £200m proposals, which would see youngsters moving to secondary school at age 11, but the final decision has been postponed until December.

If the plans get the green light, the ambitious scheme will not come into effect until 2011/12, but parents of children at Sylvan First School are worried the initiative would have a negative effect on pupils.

Nearby Heatherlands First School has expressed a wish to become a primary school under the proposals.

If this is approved by the council, children would stay at the school until age 11, instead of moving to Branksome Heath Middle School at age seven.

Branksome Heath would then have empty spaces, meaning a merger with Sylvan could be the only way for it to remain viable.

But parents feel the move would destroy the community feel of Sylvan First School.

Lisa Critchell said: "It's small enough so that all the teachers in there know all the children and all the parents.

"A four-year-old doesn't want to go to school with an 11-year-old."

Sandra Mackrow added: "It's not a case of them and us. We do feel for Heatherlands and we understand that they want what's in their best interest, but we also want what's in our best interests."

Judith Holloway said both parents and residents were concerned about what might be built in place of the smaller school if it merged with Branksome Heath.

"I think it's unrealistic not to expect a big housing development. Are we going to get shed loads more families with children where are they going to go?"

Borough of Poole strategic director for children's services John Nash said the council had no plans to close Sylvan First School.

He added: "We've got a very strong lobby from Heatherlands that we are listening to but not necessarily agreeing with.

"Some people have got it into their heads that we are trying to find schools to close to sell off for housing. We are not."

  • Parents, pupils and residents are taking part in a walking bus from the school to the council offices on Friday, July 21 at 1.30pm so the children can hand over letters protesting about the plans.