EDUCATION chiefs in York have apologised to parents for the way in which they found out about plans to cut school places in Haxby and Clifton.

And they have pledged to discuss any proposals for change with parents in the autumn term.

Parents were shocked to find out in the Evening Press last month that the City of York Council had put forward proposals to close Oaken Grove Primary School, in Haxby, and Shipton Street Infant School, off Burton Stone Lane, because of falling pupil numbers in the two areas.

The plans have now been referred back for more review.

The Haxby and Wigginton area has four primary schools, but pupil numbers are falling because of an ageing population.

A meeting was held for worried parents at Oaken Grove with education officers and Michael Peters, director of educational services, has now written to them.

He said councils had been urged by the Audit Commission to keep surplus school places under review as each one cost the council about £3,000.

But he added: "However, we also recognise that parents are rightly protective of their local schools especially when they are as successful as Oaken Grove Primary School."

He said parents had not been told about previous discussions between the council and governors because they were confidential.

"I am very sorry that our actions in releasing the School Organisation Plan caused the governing body so much distress and resulted in their being blamed for our mistake," he said.

He said Oaken Grove would be appointing a new head teacher to replace Vanessa Wigley, who is leaving for another school, for one year. A permanent appointment could be made once the future of the school was certain.

The issues in Clifton are different in that the proposals include making Kingway Junior into a primary, to take in the Shipton Street infants, and also making Burton Green Infant School into a primary school.

He said ideas had also been discussed about opening an early years centre in the Shipton Street building.

Mr Peters said parents in Clifton would also be consulted in the autumn.

"We are sorry in that we wanted the schools and the community not to feel as if this is a foregone conclusion because it's not," he said.

"We need to have a discussion about how the community is best supported.

"The real issue is about the decreasing number of children in these areas."

janet.hewison@ycp.co.uk