Controversial plans to abolish Oxford's middle schools have been branded a "poor deal" for the east of the city.

The Rev David Barton, chairman of the governors at Isis C of E Middle School, criticised Oxfordshire County Council's plans to scrap middle schools and replace them with a two-tier system of primary and secondary schools.

He claimed that "middle class" pupils could be concentrated in Isis school, leaving other primary schools with a high number of pupils from lower income families.

He said: "It is a poor deal for east Oxford. What it does is make Isis a primary with a middle-class catchment area. There is a danger that the middle-class children will go to Isis and not be spread out among all the other schools. "What we have is purpose-built first schools which are close to home, being replaced by larger schools further away. That is not desirable."

Parents of Isis pupils were also worried that some schools which are already overcrowded would be forced to accommodate even more pupils, said Mr Barton.

Robert Capstick, the county council's principal education officer, said schools would not be forced to take more pupils than they had space for.

He added: "If we did make these changes I think it would produce a better spread of schools.

"I don't have anything to say about the middle class issue. Unless parents change allegiances, I don't see that it would have much effect."

The education committee is to vote on the plans on February 2.

Story date: Friday 19 November

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