A NAME has now been chosen for Romsey's new school due to open in September.

The new school at Mercer Way will be known as Romsey Primary School and it involves merging Romsey Junior and Romsey Infant School - and is the result of streamlining schools in the area by Hampshire's education chiefs. The present Romsey Infant School at the Plaza Parade will close in July, 2007, but the head teacher, Helen Rogers, leaves at the end of this summer term. Pupils will continue to be taught at the Plaza Parade site until it closes next year but the school will be managed by the new primary school head teacher designate, Nick Hutson, from September.

Extensions are to be built at the Mercer Way-based Romsey Junior to accommodate the new 200-pupil primary schoolchildren. Mr Hutson, former head of Wellow Primary School, said a number of names had been put forward by parents but the best idea was Romsey Primary School.

"Thoughts were divided between giving the school a completely new name and choosing Romsey Primary School. Amongst the name suggested was Romsey Mead in honour of the late Councillor Charlie Mead, who devoted many years to the current schools. Another name was the Phoenix School. Most felt that whatever the name chosen, it should have Romsey in it somewhere so that it was clear that it was at the heart of life in the town and would appear in any searches by prospective parents. Thus it was decided that the best name for the new school was Romsey Primary School," said Mr Hutson.

There will be two assistant headteachers' at the new school - one yet to be appointed - will be based at the Romsey Infant School and will be responsible for teaching and learning for children up to seven years old. And Romsey Junior School's acting head, Sally Hawkins, will carry out the same duties at the new primary school site.