NO objectors have come forward to oppose plans for a new state-of-the-art "super school" in west York.

During a six-week council consultation, no parents or carers of children at Lowfields or Oaklands Secondary Schools in west York came forward to object to their closure and replacement with one new, larger school.

City of York Council proposes to create an £10 million replacement for the schools by refurbishing the existing Oaklands building.

The deadline for objections to be registered passed on April 7.

In a report to the schools organisation committee (SOC), the council's assistant director for children's services, Kevin Hall, said: "Perhaps surprisingly for such a significant proposal, no objections have been received. This means that the local authority (rather than the school organisation committee) is permitted to make the final decision at a meeting of the executive.

"However, given the importance of the proposals, it was thought appropriate for the SOC to consider the matter and pass on its views."

The proposal has been driven by a decline in pupil numbers - Oaklands has 885 and Lowfield has 520 - and a need to radically improve the condition of the existing buildings.

Under the scheme, a new, 1,050-place school would be created on the Oakland's site, replacing both the existing Oaklands and Lowfield Schools.

The Government would contribute £8 million towards the total £10 million cost of modernising and extending the buildings on the Oakland's site, with the council putting forward the remaining £2 million.

Last month, Lowfields School's head teacher, John Thompson, and Oaklands School's head teacher, David Ellis, hosted an information event for those whose children currently attend the schools or who may do in the future.

A DVD presentation, detailing the current problems faced by the schools and what could be in store if the merger goes ahead, was shown during the event at Lowfields.

Several parents were reassured after watching the DVD and talking through their concerns with council officers.

Some had previously expressed worries that children who currently attend the school would have their education disrupted, and that the intense rivalry between pupils at Lowfields and Oakfields would be inflamed by the merger.

Simon Pannet, of Dringhouses, whose 12-year-old daughter, Charlotte, attends Oaklands, said at the presentation had won him over.

"I didn't realise how old the schools were before the presentation," he said.

"We were against the merger at first because our daughter has only just started at Oaklands. This has changed my mind."

"We need to come together and be part of the same school. I'm very excited about it."

The decision about the merger will be made on Tuesday. If approved, the first batch of Year 7 pupils will be admitted from September 2007.

Updated: 10:01 Wednesday, April 19, 2006