A NATIONAL schools adjudicator has ruled in favour of a controversial £36.5 million shake-up of Purbeck schools.

Earlier this year, Dorset county council agreed to forge ahead with plans to change the school system from three to two tiers, despite concerns from some parents, teachers and councillors.

The switch in favour of a primary and secondary system will involve closing the four middle schools, expanding the 13 first schools into primaries and expanding the Purbeck School into a school for 11 to 18-year-olds.

Following the council vote in favour of a two-tier education system, the decision was subject to an appeal process and referred to the independent Office of the Schools Adjudicator.

Adjudicator Alan Parker did not uphold the objection to the proposals.

In a letter to the council he said: “While the current system is functioning satisfactorily, there are clear signs that it could easily go into a period of rapid decline unless suitable action is taken now.”

He added: “Provided education professionals work together, as I believe they will, the task of implementing this change could become a vehicle for educational improvement in the area.”

Dorset county council’s cabinet member for children’s services Toni Coombs said: “The adjudicator has confirmed that, for the Purbeck area, moving to a two-tier system will deal with falling pupil numbers and also help improve educational standards.

“Change is hard and there’s been a lot of uncertainty for those affected by the review. But we can now move forward with the reorganisation and focus on supporting pupils, staff and communities.

“This has been a difficult process for all involved, but the one thing that has remained constant throughout is everyone’s passion for children’s education in Purbeck and I’m sure that passion will help us build an effective new school system for the area.”

<>• A series of meetings will be held with head teachers and chairs of governors of all schools in the Purbeck area. There will be a two-year phased implementation process with the new system fully in place by September 2013.