Adrian Gill, of Arun Vale Infant School, in a letter to the Gazette, criticises the reorganisation plans of West Sussex County Council, which wants to replace five infant and junior schools with two "all-through" primaries. A sixth school, Lyminster Infant, would also be expanded to a full-scale primary.

Mr Gill, who says he is speaking personally and his views are not necessarily those of the Arun Vale staff and governors, argues that small schools have a vital role to play in younger children's education.

He describes Arun Vale as "a gem of a school", with consistently good OFSTED reports, adding it would be a "terrible shame" if it had to make way "for a flashy new building housing so many pupils". On Mr Gill's calculation, the new school into which his would be merged, along with Connaught Junior and Elm Grove Infant schools, could have up to 630 pupils.

"Lost and confused in huge primaries"

He also questions comments made by Connaught head Judy Grevett in the Gazette story (April 24, 2008) announcing the proposals. She said: "All the research shows that children make more progress in all-through primary schools."

Mr Gill quotes from research reported in a national newspaper last November, which stated: "Young children who once found their feet in small neighbourhood schools are being left lost and confused in the huge primaries that have replaced them."

In its consultation booklet outlining the proposals, the county council cites falling pupil numbers as one of the reasons, but Mr Gill says numbers at Arun Vale have gone up over the past five years. "Indeed, this year, for the first time since I have been at the school, the appeals process had to be initiated because more parents wanted their children to come to Arun Vale than there were places available" he adds.

Speaking to the Gazette this week, Mr Gill said the county council appeared to be steering through a "juggernaut", to which no alternative was being put.

* The first of a series of of public meetings on the proposals was due to be held last night (Wednesday, May 7) at Flora McDonald Junior School, which is earmarked for merger with Wickbourne Infant School. On Tuesday next week the plans for Arun Vale, Elm Grove and Connaught will be under scrutiny in a meeting at Connaught, and on May 19, the Lyminster Infant School plans will be debated. Both meetings are at 7pm.

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