THE future of a primary school appears to be secure.

A consultation exercise on how to amalgamate Normandy primary and Colyers Primary School, on the border of Erith and Barnehurst, and to develop a new Children’s Centre has ended.

The recommendation being made to Bexley’s cabinet on Tuesday, March 20, is to proceed with option one, to reconfigure Normandy with enhanced provision including a children’s centre, and to close Colyers Primary School.

An alternative option, largely favoured by staff, parents and children at Colyers, was to close the schools and re-open on the Normandy site as a new school.

If option one is agreed at the cabinet meeting next Tuesday, the council will proceed with the publication of a statutory notice and further consultation on the closure of Colyers in August 2008.

Head teacher Maggie Ayres said: “I’m devastated. I don’t think it was the fairest option, especially for staff who will lose any responsibilities they have.

“It goes against the statement by Bexley council that all staff should be treated fairly.”

A total of 348 individuals and groups responded to the consultation, 65 per cent of which were pupils at the two schools.

Staff at Colyers favoured option two as they felt it would make it easier for them to keep their jobs.

Bexley council admits some losses are inevitable where there is duplication, such as headship, but it predicts the only losses will be through natural wastage.

The news will be welcomed by parents of Normandy pupils. Some had feared the school building in Fairford Avenue would be demolished if option two was chosen. The confusion was caused by the phrasing of the consultation document.

One parent said: “Parents thought it was going to be a completely new school, rather than the same school but with a new name.”

Bexley council said officers and cabinet members had read each response and were taking all views into account. It also believed any issues requiring clarification had been fully explained at public meetings.

The meeting of Bexley council's cabinet on March 20 will be at 7.30pm at the Civic Offices at Bexleyheath.