IT will be one of the greatest and most controversial shake-ups in Southampton's education history.

All secondary schools will be affected to varying degrees, and some almost certainly face closure.

At the heart of the matter is one simple fact: declining birth rates will result in nearly one in four secondary school places being empty by 2011.

If the crisis is not addressed soon the result will be an uneconomic education system in dire financial straits that will cost jobs and harm the quality of education, say education experts.

As a result a number of proposals have been outlined to head off the potential problems and many have already split communities. What should have been an open consultation process giving parents and schools a say in the future plans, has descended into farce and bitter argument.

Closure plans for schools have come in and out of the proposals leading to parents taking to the streets in protest.

As reported in yesterday's Daily Echo, the latest proposals for the east of the city say Grove Park could still close completely in 2010/11. Alternatively, Grove Park and Woolston could both close and a new mixed school open up on the Grove Park site.

Meanwhile to the west, it is proposed Millbrook and Oaklands both close and a new school open on the Oaklands site. In addition, Millbrook School could close in 2008 and its students transferred to Oaklands. A further dozen schools will also be affected from the fallout of the above changes while education chiefs are also considering the creation of a brand new girls' school in the city.

All these proposals have implications for teaching staff as well as thousands of youngsters.

Any changes will be implemented from September 2008.

Inside today's special report:-

  • Is your school under threat? all the options outlined at a glance page 8
  • All your questions answered we put the education chief on the spot page 9
  • Your concerns parents put the case for their children's schools page 10