THURROCK Council is to consult on the amalgamation of Thameside Juniors and Infants into one school.

The Labour cabinet agreed to hold a consultation on the proposal at their meeting on Wednesday August 11.

The junior school has tried and failed to recruit a full time head teacher and currently has an interim head teacher from another school, while the infant school does have a permanent head in place.

Cllr Diana Hale, Labour’s cabinet member for education, said that by amalgamating the schools, both on Manor Road, they will be able to offer a bigger salary and attract a strong head.

She said:" We need to be able to attract a strong head to this school as part of our work to improve Key Stage 2 results across the borough.

"The council has a clear policy to amalgamate schools where there is the opportunity to do so and where we believe it will be in the best interests of children, parents and staff."

In last year’s school league table for Key Stage 2 results, Thameside Junior School was second from bottom in Thurrock.

The council’s School Strategy 2020 Vision says that when junior and infant schools are based on the same site, the authority will look to amalgamate the schools wherever possible when the head of one leaves.

The governing bodies of both Thameside Infants and Juniors are said to have agreed to the proposal.

Should the cabinet decide to go ahead with the plans, a primary school would be opened on the existing site, using the existing facilities.

The consultation starts on September 13 and will end on November 8 2010, with the views of the public reported to the cabinet on December 8.