EDUCATION chiefs this week strenuously denied they had already chosen their favoured option for the reorganisation of schools in West Somerset. Somerset County Council's education officer Jon Rose said he "took exception" to claims the local education authority had already made up its mind and pledged to keep people fully informed on radical plans which could totally overhaul the area's school system. As exclusively revealed in last week's Free Press, the authority is investigating a number of options to address the issue of falling school roles, most likely by phasing out West Somerset's current three tier education system. Instead, both Minehead and Dulverton Middle Schools could be closed or federated with existing first schools, which in turn could become primaries, while both the West Somerset Community College and Danesfield Middle School could take a greater age range of pupils. A source claimed the education authority was leaning towards the closure of the two middle schools and accused it of trying to "brow beat governors" into accepting the proposals. Mr Rose confirmed the authority had been holding informal discussions on the various options with headteachers and governors for at least the last nine months, but said nothing had been decided. But he warned that smaller schools could ultimately face closure unless some action was taken to address the issue of falling pupil numbers. In a statement he said: "Option patterns are being discussed with could longer term involve a move from the present three tier system of first, middle and upper schooling in to a two tier primary and secondary arrangement or a variation on the present three tier arrangement involving much closer working between schools locally. "The options being discussed now at a professional level will be subject to a wider informal consultation with the parent bodies of the schools and the district and local parish councils during the early part of the this coming summer term. "We are are anxious to keep the press informed by good discussions with them to keep all parties informed; but take exception to the release of material which presents a firm view that the county council has already made up its mind - which is not the case." On Wednesday, Bridgwater and West Somerset MP Ian Liddell-Grainger met Mr Rose to discuss the details of the confidential report featured in last week's Free Press. Mr Liddell-Grainger said the meeting had been constructive and he had been reassured by pledges that nothing was set in stone and that full consultation would be carried out. He said: "I was extremely angry when I first read about this and am keen to ensure that things are done in the proper way. "I have been assured that no early decisions will be made on any of our schools and that includes the ones outside of my constituency in Dulverton." Dulverton county Cllr John Edwards was also keen to reassure parents that no decisions would be taken until consultation had taken place. Meanwhile, Mr Rose said the authority's paramount concern was to ensure nothing was done which would adversely affect West Somerset's standards of education. "We are anxious that while some changes in the area will need to come about in terms of school organisation, we do not cause anything to happen significantly that will result in the present standards of education slipping," he said. "Informal" consultations are due to take place with parents in the coming weeks, with a formal consultation scheduled between September and December. A final decision would then be taken next summer with a view to implementing any changes in the 2008-09 school year.