A FALL in pupil numbers in Liskeard has led to Cornwall's Local Education Authority starting the ball rolling to amalgamate two of the town's schools on to one site. Currently the Infant School operates in its own building in West Street, and the Junior School is based at Old Road, but if the consultation goes through, both schools will cease to exist by September 2006. Infants The infants will then re-locate to the former Junior School buildings, where a new primary school in Liskeard for children aged four to 11 years, will open. The school will also have a new name which is yet to be decided. Cornwall LEA says that the governors of both schools have acknowledged the policy which necessitates the amalgamation of the two schools for economic reasons. At the moment neither school is operating at full capacity with 176 empty places. The LEA said the proposal has come about because the primary pupil population in Liskeard is falling, despite housing developments in the town, and the opportunity now arises to develop a single two form primary school. This format is the Authority's preferred model for primary education, avoiding what can sometimes be a disruptive transfer between schools at age seven. Both sets of governors have since met separately and jointly, and after consulting with staff over the proposed amalgamation have written a letter to parents of children at both schools, informing them of their support for the plan. Anthony Earl, chair of the Junior School governors, and Kathryn Graham, chair at the Infant School, say that parents will have an opportunity to attend a meeting with the LEA in the spring term of 2005 to enable them to make their contribution to the new school. Oldest The Infants School, which opened in 1958 and is now the oldest in the town, has been under the headship for the last 12 years, of Mrs Pamela Shaw. She says governors and staff were invited to look at the Junior School building and have identified two areas which will need changing for infants. These will be outdoor play provision and access for parents to the classrooms of the youngest pupils. At the Junior School, head teacher since 1991, Martin Clark, said a one site school would be much better for parents and children who would now only have to contend with one drop off point. 'Both schools are excellent and the falling roles are not a reflection on them in any way,' he said.