DISRUPTION to schools during the change-over process will be kept to an absolute minimum, it was promised.

Oxfordshire County Council's Labour group leader Brian Hodgson said disruption was a major concern.

Principal education officer Robert Capstick said they had allowed more than enough time for building work, which starts in 2001, to be complete.

He added: "The reorganisation is relatively modest compared to other authorities who have gone through this with up to 200 schools -- we are talking about 45 schools."

Once buildings are ready, there will be a transitional year from September 2002, with the first schools keeping their eldest pupils for an extra year, middle schools losing their lowest year and upper schools remaining the same.

From September 2003, first schools will take pupils up to 11 and be renamed primary schools.

Upper schools will lower their entry to 11, cutting out middle schools altogether.

By Mark Templeton

Story date: February 3, 2000

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