A RIVAL bid to provide education for 11 and 12-year-olds from cash-strapped Dulverton Middle School could scupper West Somerset Community College's controversial plans to lower its age range.

The college insists the proposed change - currently out to consultation - to take children from aged 11, rather than 13, is a specific initiative to tackle the impact of funding cuts on year seven and eight pupils from southern Exmoor.

But the reaction has been mixed, sparking concerns it would lead to a districtwide change from a three-tier to a two-tier system of education, threaten the future of West Somerset's remaining two middle schools and even lead to the closure of some smaller first schools.

Now Minehead Middle, which as a member of the Exmoor Coast Federation is opposed to the college's plans, is proposing it forms a federation with Dulverton Middle, sharing budgets, teaching and support staff.

In a joint letter being sent to Dulverton parents, headteacher Paul Rushforth and chairman of governors Geoff Lloyd said a key part of the proposal was that it would enable Dulverton catchment area children to be educated in Dulverton - under the college proposal, 11 and 12-year-year-olds would have to move to Minehead.

Mr Rushforth and Mr Lloyd said the Minehead Middle solution would avoid children having a daily journey across Exmoor and being swallowed up in a large secondary school on an open access site.

They said a federated approach between Minehead and Dulverton Middle would enable economies of scale to be made as part of efficient management.

And it would also minimise transport costs by ensuring children stayed largely in their respective schools.

Mr Rushforth and Mr Lloyd said discussions had taken place with executive head of the Exmoor Federation Jerry Weedon and chairman of governors Jackie Smith in March.

But they said they did not think the details of their proposal had been put to all governors or parents.

"We believe that the college's proposal needs to be balanced by our own offer, so the Dulverton community has a real choice," they said.

"We appreciate this proposal raises many questions but we wish to move forward in a true spirit of partnership.

"Fundamentally, the proposal has the positive advantages of raising standards and keeping education both local and sustainable."

Headteachers and chairmen of governors of all West Somerset schools were invited to a meeting in Timberscombe on Tuesday, chaired by Somerset County Council, the local education authority.

No details have emerged of what was discussed or of any outcomes.

But a number of parents - who have asked not to be identified - contacted the Free Press this week to raise their concerns about the college's proposal and to question its motives.

Minutes of a meeting of the college governors in February reveal that it may have had plans for wider integration, rather than just with Dulverton.

"The fragmented delivery of education in West Somerset is holding back the achievement and personal development of our young people," said the minutes.

"To ensure consistent delivery of a coherent curriculum requires a high degree of integration between schools, which to date, our partnerships have failed to deliver.

"We would like to see a single organisation with one governing body and one leadership team responsible for 0-19 education across our area."

The minutes reveal that the college accepts that in a widely dispersed population, multi-site operation would be inevitable.

"As a first step, each of our partner schools should be invited to join us in a 'hard' federation, multi-academy trust or what ever other structure will ensure the necessary degree of integration.

"We recognise that in the event that we succeed in establishing such a structure but fail to win the support of all our partner schools, the new organisation may find itself in competition with other West Somerset schools."

One parent, whose children would be affected by the changes proposed, said he was concerned that that the three-tier system of education was at risk of being destabilised.

"The first, middle and secondary school system works well in West Somerset," he said.

"I am very worried that the college proposal will seriously endanger many of our small schools which are such an important part of our local communities.

"I believe the college is being totally misleading when it says it is only trying to address the Dulverton issue - without a doubt it would have serious implications for the other middle schools and some first schools."

And another parent said that judging by the "banners, petitions and hostile public meetings" in the wake of the college proposal, the college had failed to win the support of its partner schools.

"Do we therefore face the situation where the college will compete with its own middle schools or will their governors respect the views of the community and gracefully drop this ill-conceived and damaging idea?"

Meanwhile, the county council has announced it is holding a series of drop-in sessions to hear views from parents and the local community about the future of education on southern Exmoor.

The events, attended by Mr Weedon, governors and county council officials, will take place at Dulverton Middle on Tuesday (July 2) and Exford First on Thursday (July 4), both running from 3pm to 7pm.

Cabinet member for children and families and local county councillor Frances Nicholson said the local views would form part of all the thinking and discussions behind any possible changes in the future.