THERE could be changes to the structure of primary school provision in Grangetown because of an over-supply of places, according to the local authority.

Jenny Lewis, director of education at Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council, is being asked to come up with some proposals to change the pattern of primary school provision in the area and report back to the council's executive.

The problem is that there is more than 25 per cent of surplus places in Grangetown and the authority is legally obliged to take action to reduce that figure.

Figures suggest that there is room for 861 pupils at the three primary schools - Alderman William Jones, Atlee Road and Grangetown - but there are just 684 pupils on the roll.

Predictions suggest that this figure will fall to 536 by 2006.

Stakeholders in the community, governors and headteachers at the three schools are also being asked for their input and the authority accepts that they and parents will be concerned at any suggestion of changes to the education system.

The council says that its main options include amalgamating Alderman William Jones and Atlee Road in one of the existing buildings and seeking funding to provide two new permanent classrooms.

If the executive gives clearance for consultations to start, which it is expected to do at its meeting on Tuesday, then a consultation exercise will get under way.

It is hoped that if there is a change, youngsters will be at their new schools in September next year.