EDUCATION bosses are to consider merging a Catholic infants and junior school in Burnley as part of a £2million shake-up.

St John the Baptist RC Infants, Ivy Street, could be amalgamated with the junior school on its Thames Avenue site because of falling pupil numbers.

Parents and staff have been consulted and have been given one last chance to make their views known before the final decision early next year.

A report to Lancashire County Council's education boss, Coun Alan Whittaker -- which councillors will consider on Friday -- reveals that between January 2002 and September 2005 pupil numbers at the junior school fell by 44 and by 23 at the infant school.

The move has been put forward by the schools' governing bodies and the Catholic Salford Diocese.

Ken Pearson, secretary of the Burnley branch of the National Union of Teachers, said the move could result in small job losses but the union accepted the move was necessary in light of the figures.

He added: "As long as they follow the rules and are considered to be fair then we will go along with it, although we don't like the idea that people may be losing jobs."

Junior school headteacher Kieran Heakin said: "To give an indication of how people feel about this we have had two consultations with parents where letters have been sent out -- and only one turned up, which to me shows parents are fairly happy.

"The education authority and the diocese haven't received any objections. There are 210 schools in the diocese and we are the only one that has separate infant and junior schools.

"The merger will probably mean smaller class sizes as we are reducing the intake to 30 from 45, which means that other Catholic schools in Burnley will be able to carry on and make other schools more viable."

And he added: "It's ambitious and involves a £2million building scheme where five new classes will be build on this site and half of the school will be refurbished.

"The masterplan shows that four classes will have to move temporarily - one will go into a new class, two will go to the infants and one will go into a spare classroom when the building work starts, which will be after Christmas 2006."

Coun Whittaker said: "I shall not be raising any objections over the amalgamation of these two schools. It's a matter for the Salford Diocese to determine at the end of the consultation."

The closing date for consultations is January 13, after which governing bodies will meet to discuss the plan.