PLANS to merge two Hampshire schools have been revealed.

• Quilley School through the years - in pictures >>

Education bosses are tabling the proposal to merge The Quilley School in Eastleigh with Crestwood College two miles away.

The move comes after the headteacher of Quilley School Chris McShane left his post just after the start of the academic year.

The plan is to close The Quilley School and for the site on Cherbourg Road to become part of Crestwood College.

According to Hampshire County Council children’s services manager Chris Holt, the move is as a result of falling pupil numbers with less than half the number of places at Quilley currently filled in addition to poor exam and performance results for the past three years.

In a letter which is due to be sent out to parents he says: “The Government’s Department for Education’s measure of secondary school attainment shows that Quilley has been performing poorly for the past three years despite significant attempts to improve its performance. Places at Quilley are undersubscribed, with only 335 pupils on roll the school is less than half full.

“A school’s funding is heavily linked to pupil numbers,low pupil numbers can limit a secondary schools ability to employ sufficient staff to provide breadth in the curriculum.”

Councillor Peter Edgar, Executive Member for Education at Hampshire County Council, said: “Clearly we have a situation in Eastleigh that must be addressed in order to ensure that those who are most important in this, the students, have the opportunity to be educated near to where they live and with a high quality of teaching. I would encourage as many people to respond to the consultation as possible; that includes students, parents, staff and local residents and businesses.”

The consultation is due to be formally launched next Tuesday and will last a month before a decision is made by education bosses at Hampshire. If agreed the closure and subsequent expansion would be completed by next September.

A parent of a pupil at Crestwood College, who asked not to be named said: “Up until now we have only heard rumours. I just don’t know how they are going to manage pupils over both those sites, it’s not like they are within walking distance. My concern would be the disruption any merger would cause.”

Although the details of the practicalities of working across both sites will be determined by the leadership team of the expanded school, the principal will be that no pupil will be required to travel between the two sites during the school day, say education bosses.

Headteacher of Crestwood College Krista Dawkins said: “We are happy to be working alongside the Quilley school and the prospect of a new education offer for the Eastleigh community.

“We are at the very start of the consultation process and no decision has been made yet, that is why it is very important for all parents to contribute to it.

“I understand that there will be concern about the proposals but we are committed to ensuring that the proposal does not disrupt the education of pupils.”

The Quilley School directed the Chronicle request for a comment to Hampshire County Council as the Local Education Authority overseeing the consultation.