The first public meeting to discuss controversial plans to merge two Medway schools to form an academy was held last night.

Medway Council wants to close the successful Chatham South School and merge it with failing Medway Community College.

The replacement academy would open on the college site in 2012/13.

The first of nine meetings to discuss the proposal was held at Chatham South School in Letchworth Avenue, last night.

Several hundred people attended the meeting which was chaired by Cllr Les Wicks, cabinet member for children’s services.

Head of Chatham South, Vincent O’Mara, said parents were very positive but expressed fears about the merger.

He added: “The message that came across from parents of children at Chatham South was that this is a successful school and they are proud for their children to be taught here.

"But they are bound to be worried about plans for the academy.

“It was very humbling how positive parents were about the school and it was a great endorsement of the quality of education here.

“I can see that a state-of the art academy school would be beneficial to Medway and Chatham in particular.

“Chatham South is a great site, it’s well looked after and it attractive but there are limits to what even we can do.”

Plans to build the £25 million academy were revealed in May.

The academy will have 1,200 pupils when it starts in 2010, and an eight-form (240 pupil) annual entry, and it will also have a sixth form.

The proposal follows a similar plan for Chapter and Temple schools in Strood, which caused huge controversy when it was announced last year.

The Church of England will be the main sponsor of the Chatham academy. The University of Canterbury Christ Church and Medway Council would be co-sponsors.

The academy will also offer vocational courses and provide new community facilities.

Medway Community College was placed in special measures earlier this year after an Ofsted inspection and is already getting help from Chatham South.