EDUCATION chiefs from York are to ask the Government for cash to build two new schools in the city.

A delegation from City of York Council will meet Schools Standards Minister David Miliband later this month.

They will ask for cash to extend Manor School, close Lowfield School, and create a new school on the site of Oaklands School, in Acomb.

The council announced plans to change the shape of secondary schools in the west of the city last year because of falling pupil rolls.

Three options were put forward, including the closure of Lowfield and its replacement with a new school at the Oaklands site, or an extension to Manor School.

A consultation revealed most people supported the idea of merging Lowfield and Oaklands and extending Manor, although governors at Oaklands and Lowfield preferred an option to maintain the status quo.

Though council officials will be asking the minister for extra cash, which would be needed to allow this option to be pursued, no final decision has been made.

Education officers have been costing the proposals and undertaking preliminary work. This work will form the basis of the presentation to Mr Miliband.

Patrick Scott, the council's director of education, said: "I am encouraged by the fact that David Miliband wants to meet us. We have a scheme here that meets all of the Government's aspirations for the future of secondary education in this country."

Updated: 12:58 Tuesday, March 09, 2004