A SOUTHAMPTON infant school has been saved from closure after education bosses had a last-minute change of heart.

A panel of governors, councillors and church representatives met yesterday to seal the fate of four schools in the Bitterne and Townhill areas of the city.

Proposals had been put forward to close Harefield Infant School and amalgamate it on the site of neighbouring Harefield Junior School - reducing the number of places from 418 to just 210.

But after last-ditch talks were held following pressure from parents the panel instead voted unanimously to amalgamate the two creating Harefield Primary School on the site of Harefield Infant School.

The new Harefield Primary School will be a one and a half class of entry school with 315 places in total.

Moorlands Infant School will be enlarged to a new primary school, taking its total places from 180 to 210, while

Beechwood Junior School will be reduced from 360 to 240 places.

The decisions - that follow a six-month consultation period - form part of reorganisation of school places due to falling birth rates. They will be implemented from September 2006.

Parents at Harefield Infant School feared the original proposals would force people to take their children to other parts of the city and fought hard to keep the school open.

School governor Steve Morrison said: "We are absolutely delighted, it's an incredible feeling because we have worked really hard for this.

"It's a real victory for the whole community, the parents and the school. We have never been against having one primary school all we wanted was to maintain the numbers that would meet the needs of the Harefield community.

"The school will also be on the nest premises, keeping the established sensory environment trail."

Councillor Calvin Horner, City Council Executive Member for Lifelong Learning and Training said: "The message from this evening's meeting is that we are listening. During our consultations with the schools, parents and governors from across this area some valid arguments were put forward and we have taken them into consideration."

"The modified proposals will ensure there are more places at the new Harefield primary for pupils whose parents want them to go there.

"However, the reality remains that falling rolls are creating substantial problems for one in every eight schools in Southampton and we as a council must continue to monitor this situation to ensure the resources taken up by excess places do not become a burden on our children's education."