A LONG-TERM governor at an infant school has resigned over controversial merger plans.

Ken Faulkner, a ten-year governor and former head of the PTA at Staples Road Infant School, in Loughton, said he couldn't support proposals to merge with the next door junior school.

Under a scheme drawn up by the schools' governing bodies and Essex County Council, a new primary school will be formed from the merger with a single head and set of governors.

Mr Faulkner said: “I can't support the amalgamation of the schools at all. The reasons put forward aren't valid. It will be a very bad and detrimental move.

“This new school will be quite a large administration. They'll have to spend a lot of time with admin. At the moment the infant school head spends a lot of time with the children. She knows each child individually. With a large school the children will get lost. I really think it's a terrible backward step.”

The move to amalgamate was in part prompted by the impending retirement of both infant school head Anne Davison and her junior school colleague Melvyn Cardy with both due to step down at the end of the summer term in 2010.

Mr Faulkner said: “The reason stated was they'd have difficulty recruiting two good heads. I don't accept that. Staples Road have recruited three excellent new teachers recently. We've never had any problems appointing new teachers.

“The other reason was, while the Infant School had an outstanding Ofsted, the Junior had a poor Ofsted. I don't think that 's a good reason to amalgamate the schools. You could damage the work with the Infant School.

“I've been associated with the school since my kids went there over 30 years ago. It's very sad, but I've had to resign.”

Chair of governors at Staples Road Infant school Lyn Baber said she respected Mr Faulkner's decision but insisted the move would be good for both children and teachers.

She said: “It will provide consistency across the curriculum which will enhance the education of the children.

“The governing body have put in a lot of ground work. Certainly all the teachers in the Infant School seem to look forward to it. It gives them a lot of opportunity for personal development.

“We work closely with the Junior School anyway, and my feeling is it's something they are positive about as well.

“I respect Ken a lot as a governor. We didn't want to see him go but I understand he has objections to it and I respect that.

“People who are concerned should keep in mind it's a Government initiative to get more and more schools to amalgamate. There's less money for schools, and it's a good time to do this. The position we are offering will be very attractive to people.”

Infant School governor and parent of two Junior School children Chris Inch said he supported the merger

He said: “As a parent at the Junior School my children won't be affected as the process is due to be completed in 2011 after they've gone. I'll be more affected by the choice of a new head.

“The school currently shares some staff and a joined building. A lot of people think it's one school anyway. Ninety-six per cent of children at the Junior School were in the Infants School. Certainly my two came all the way from the infants to the juniors.

"If they're treated as one you hope it'll make them feel more at home."

Two public meetings to discuss the future of the schools are due to held at 2pm and 7pm on Wednesday, October 7 at the new school hall.