COUNCILLORS have backed plans which will see two York schools unite.

Our Lady's Roman Catholic Primary School and English Martyrs' Roman Catholic Primary School, which take pupils from the Acomb, Holgate, Dringhouses, Woodthorpe, Westfield and Micklegate wards, will operate with one head teacher and under one joint governing body.

Councillors at a meeting of City of York Council's education and children's services panel backed the proposed 'federation'.

The schools will remain on their own sites, but work more closely together.

The report to councillors said both schools have struggled to recruit a Roman Catholic head teacher, due to a national shortage. They currently share the services of Eileen Fitzpatrick as head teacher.

Both governing bodies decided to join up the schools to solve the problem, with a longer-term aim of merging in the future.

Under the immediate plan, pupils will continue to be taught by teachers in their own schools and not have to travel between sites. But if numbers fall further, the schools may consult parents about a full merger.

The report said: "The two schools will continue to be funded separately, but the governing body has the authority to combine the two budgets."

Ms Fitzpatrick is leaving this summer, and it is hoped the merged school will attract a high calibre replacement.

The two governing bodies are set to make the formal decision to federate next week.

There are currently 192 pupils at Our Lady's school, which includes nursery pupils, and 210 at English Martyrs'.

Speaking to the Evening Press last week, ahead of the unification, Ms Fitzpatrick said: "Federation means having a full-time permanent fixture for the new head teacher and a single governing body.

"We are looking to see if we can take this step so we can then take the bigger step - which is amalgamation of the two schools.

"The consultation is not over, but the governors are very encouraged by the level of interest.

"Parents are asking thoughtful questions.

"In my view it is a brave thing the governors are doing. Taking note of falling numbers, they are looking at the problem strategically before they have to act by default."

Updated: 11:00 Thursday, March 23, 2006