The future of schools in and around Grimston will be decided by the Norfolk County Council review, designed to ensure children do not continue to change school in the middle of a key stage of education, aged eight.

Major building works could be required to create one or more new, bigger schools or extend existing ones and if that is the case major changes are not likely until 2013 at the earliest.

If a less costly way forward is found, changes are still unlikely before September 2010.

Ashwicken, Gayton, Pott Row and Grimston Church Hill first schools, where children currently leave aged eight, and Grimston Junior School, which currently takes eight to 11-year-olds are at the centre of the shake-up.

Mrs Barbara Pithers, headteacher at Church Hill – the smallest school involved, with ten pupils – said it is far from a foregone conclusion that her school will close.

She said: "Everybody is going to be in the same pot and every option is being looked at."

The schools need to jointly cater for around 350 children.

Options to be considered include whether there should be one or more all-through primary schools – taking all children up to age 11, a system of infant schools, taking children up to age seven and junior schools taking seven to 11 year olds or a mixture of the two.

Parents, governors, staff and the wider community are due to be consulted ahead of a decision, likely toward the end of this school year.

Ashwicken and Gayton first schools both believe they have a good case to become full primary schools.

More than 100 people have already signed a petition for that to happen in Ashwicken.

Ashwicken First School headteacher Mrs Sue Collison said: "The staff and governors and lots of parents are very passionate about their children staying here until 11 to give continuity of education through two key stages."

'VICBRANT'

Gayton First School headteacher Mrs Melanie Duggan added: "We feel if we became a primary we would have around 100 to 110 children, which by Norfolk standards is a reasonable size and Gayton is a very vibrant and expanding village."

Pott Row First School headteacher Mrs Jenny Jefferson is just as keen to see her school survive in one guise or another.

She said: "Obviously we want to stay open and will do everything we can to make sure ours is one of the schools that is still going."

The shake-up is part of the final stages of a ten-year county-wide schools reorganisation.

Norfolk County Council reorganisation specialist Tim Newton said where possible the preferred option is to err away from infant and junior schools and create all-through primary schools.

He added: "What it is about is providing the very best school organisation to support children's achievement."

Grimston Junior School declined to comment at this stage.

The Lynn News would like to apologise for not making it clear in Friday's paper that the consultation will include talks over the possibility of creating all-through primary schools in the Grimston area – taking on all primary-aged children.