Proposals to amalgamate two schools in Stockton will be discussed by councillors later this week.

Members of Stockton Borough Council's cabinet will meet on Thursday when they will be asked to recommend consultation be held on the plans to amalgamate Fairfield Infant and Junior Schools.

Any possible amalgamation would involve closing the two schools and creating a new 420 place primary school on the shared site.

A report to the meeting said: "Primary schools provide significant educational advantages for pupils and in particular there will be better continuity in children's learning.

"The staff will be a single team sharing information about children's progress and any problems that might arise.

"Teaching can be more consistent and the single staff team will be larger than each of the separate teams in the two existing schools."

It is hoped consultation can be carried out during September and it is proposed to consult parents of all pupils at both schools, governing bodies of both schools, the teaching and support staff, trade unions and ward councillors.

Once this has been done, the cabinet will meet again in October to consider a second report which will ask them to approve or refuse amalgamation.

If amalgamation is agreed, in January next year the School Organisation Committee will decide whether to implement the proposal.

Once this is established new staff will be appointed and it is hoped amalgamation will be complete by September 2004.