TWO Bournemouth schools are celebrating after learning they are not to be considered for closure.

Plans to shut Kings High and Oakmead and replace them with a new school in north Bournemouth were being looked at by education chiefs.

But now the rising birth rate in the borough, and public demand to keep them, means they have both been reprieved.

Kings High is now likely to be put forward for academy status while both schools are set for a major investment boost, as are several others in Bournemouth and Poole.

The money is coming from an unprecedented £120 million fund under the Building Schools for the Future programme in which Bournemouth and Poole education authorities are working together.

Jane Portman, Bournemouth's executive director of children and family services, said: "We have spent the summer consulting on the Kings High and Oakmead idea and we've had a rethink.

"There was strong feedback that local people want to keep the schools within their communities. I'm sure parents, staff and governors will be delighted at the news both are to stay."

"At the same time our pupil projections show we're going to need that capacity in the future, so that was an important factor. This is a sustainable solution."

The population increase is set to hit secondary schools in 2018.

Alyn Fendley, headteacher of Kings High said: "We're delighted. Everyone can now look forward with confidence. I am pleased the community has had the chance to have its say and the forecast supports the need for a local secondary school."

As part of the wider Building Schools for the Future programme sponsors have already been identified for Kings High, The Bishop of Winchester and Rossmore Community College. Negotiations are ongoing.

More schools across both boroughs will shortly be invited to join the programme.

While the funding is at unprecedented levels, the only cloud on the horizon may be the credit crunch - the money is not yet in the bank.

Barry Watts, programme director, and Andrew Flockhart, Poole policy director, say they are confident the funding will not be affected by the economic downturn.

"We are confident we'll get it," said Mr Watts. "We have no indication it will be cut. It's the chance of a lifetime for our education system."

Yesterday the Daily Echo revealed that around 400 new infant places must be created by September 2011 to cope with the rising birth rate in Bournemouth. Existing schools are likely to be expanded with demand highest in the town centre and north Bournemouth areas.