Plans to combine schools

'UNFILLED PUPIL PLACES' AND 'FINANCIAL CHALLENGES' ARE BEHIND THE BID TO AMALGAMATE INFANT AND JUNIOR SCHOOLS

- BY ALEXANDER BROCK

PROPOSALS to combine two Birmingham schools amid 'unfilled pupil places' and 'financial challenges' have been put forward.

The city council has said it has received a request to amalgamate Bellfield Infant School and Bellfield Junior School, which operate on the same site in Northfield.

If the plans are given the green light, the junior school would be 'discontinued' while the infant school would become a single primary school with a pupil age range of three to 11 years.

According to the council, the main reasons for the amalgamation are the financial challenges at the school and 'falling roll,' which means a number of pupil places are unfilled.