A PLAN has been hatched to save a failing school.

Swindon Council wants cabinet members to vote in favour of merging Covingham Park Infant and Junior Schools at next Wednesday's council meeting.

One of the reasons for the merger, according to the council, is that there has not been enough progress at the junior school since it plunged into special measures at the end of last year.

Because the schools are located within arm's length of each other at The Harriers, the council thinks it would be in the best interest of the children if the two became a two-form entry primary school.

A walkway would be built, linking the two existing sites.

As we reported in January, Covingham Park Junior School sank into special measures following a damning Ofsted report.

Inspectors found pupils' progress was inadequate and that the school had been on a downward slide since the last inspection in 1999.

But it is not just the problems at the junior school which have prompted the plans.

Coun Garry Perkins, (Con, Shaw and Nine Elms), the lead member for children's services, said: "The same thing happened at Eldene and it was successful there.

"It would be a lot more cost effective to have one primary school because we would have one head, one management team, one secretary, one telephone number, so it would make sense.

"Parents worry the four-year- olds will be trampled on by the older children but we would maintain the two separate entrances and separate play areas.

"What we would have is a situation where lessons are linked throughout the school, which would benefit the pupils."

Coun Perkins said if the plans go ahead the new school would be running by September 2007.

The council also say there is an increasing number of surplus places at both schools.

Based on 2006 pupil numbers, the infant school currently has 9.4 per cent surplus capacity and the juniors.8.3 per cent.

The council predicts that by 2011 this figure will increase to 19 per cent for both schools.

Maria Hayward, 33, of Fieldfare, has daughters at both schools, Caitlen, five, and Kiya, nine. Her eldest daughter, Louise Cox, 16, also went to both schools.

"I have not had any real problems with either school," she said.

"Obviously I was concerned when the juniors was put in special measures but to be honest I haven't noticed a lot of difference.

"I don't see how making the school into a primary would be much different because the schools are on the same site. It seems like a bit of a waste of money to me."

But Mandy Harrington, of Coleview, would welcome a change.

The 31-year-old auxiliary nurse has two children, Molly, nine and Charlie, five.

"I have had problems with the infants' school," she said. "I would like to see a change and have one head and one school."

factfile

AT THE beginning of the year, the Advertiser reported Covingham Park Junior School had been put into special measures.

Ofsted inspectors visited the 224-pupil school for seven to 11-year-olds and said the school was failing to deliver an acceptable standard of education and was failing its pupils.

They found that pupils' progress was inadequate and that the school had been on a downward slide since the last inspection in 1999.

The report said: "Standards have been too low for the past five years. Pupils enter the school with above average attainment but, by Year 6, their standards are only average in English, maths and science."

The news hit head Colin Green hard he has been there for 11 years and has received two positive Ofsted reports in the past.

But in a letter to parents Mr Green said the findings of the report came as no major surprise due to staffing turbulence and high class sizes.