SECONDARY education in West Somerset could face its most radical shake-up as a total of four schools are now attempting to change their age range in a scrabble to attract pupils and safeguard their future.

Minehead Middle confirmed this week that it was launching a consultation on proposals to take pupils up to aged 16, rather than the current 13, offering a range of mainstream GCSE subjects and an alternative to the West Somerset College.

The college, meanwhile, is currently consulting on changes to its admissions policy after governors decided to press ahead with moves to lower its age range to take 11 and 12-year-olds - despite overwhelming objections from consultees.

Both developments follow a decision by governors from the Exmoor Federation - Dulverton Middle, All Saints First and Exford First - to ask Somerset County Council to consult formally on proposals that would change the age range in two of its schools.

Under the proposals - initially put forward by the county but backed by the governors - All Saints would become an early years and infant school catering for children from nought to seven, while Dulverton Middle would become a junior school, with pupils aged from seven to 11.

But in a surprise twist, 11 and 12-year-olds from the Dulverton catchment area would go to Kingsmead in Wiveliscombe, which is currently consulting on changes to its admissions arrangements to give priority to year seven children from southern Exmoor from September 2015, with year eight children able to transfer at the same time.

The proposals affecting all four schools have been sparked by a funding crisis at Dulverton Middle, which has been hit by drastic reductions in its budget allocation from central Government following the Department of Education's introduction of a new school funding criteria.

The loss of money means the school is finding it increasingly difficult to deliver secondary education to its pupils.

But the result has left schools at loggerheads as they battle to compete for pupils against a background of falling numbers.

And this week an action group of parents, former teachers and others involved in education in the Dulverton area announced it was fighting to save the town's middle school.

Jan Ross, a former teacher and community education manager at Dulverton Middle, said many people had been horrified to hear of the proposal to take two years' education away from local children.

She said the school had long enjoyed a great reputation for its academic excellence.

"The county council is saying it's a given that having under 600 pupils is not a viable secondary school - but on that basis, 130 of the 171 middle schools in England would close," said Mrs Ross.

"We want Dulverton Middle to continue as it is because it is so right for our Exmoor children.

"We are determined to fight this because the three-tier system works well in West Somerset.

"This is being done for financial and political reasons only."

Mrs Ross said there was still no certainty on the final details of new funding allocations for schools and decisions on the future of Dulverton Middle were being taken before all the vital information was known.

Letters detailing Minehead Middle's proposals went out last Friday to parents of all 1,200 children from nursery to year seven in the Exmoor Coast Federation of schools, which in addition to the middle school includes Minehead's two first schools and the first schools in Dunster, Timberscombe, Cutcombe and Porlock.

Chairman of governors at Minehead Middle Martina Forster said the decision had been taken in light of the college's proposal to lower its age range, which had put the future of the school and its first school partners at risk.

"We cannot do nothing," she said, stressing it was a "do or die" situation.

The federation has been vocal in its criticism of the college's move to take younger pupils, fearing it would destabilise West Somerset's three tier system of education.

"We are planning to adapt and develop strategically in a manner that is in the best interests of all our children," said Mrs Forster.

"There really is no other option and it really is as simple as that."

If the proposal is taken forward, the middle school could be offering alternative secondary provision from September 2015.

No changes would be made to the current provision for years five to eight, with 13 to 16-year-olds educated in a separate but closely linked building.

Mrs Forster said high pastoral care would be retained, whilst links with post-16 colleges would be developed to allow pupils to progress after GCSEs.

In addition, the close relationship with its federated first schools would be maintained.

"We believe that offering a choice between two schools - that will still be above average in size for Somerset - will raise standards for all, which can only be of benefit for our children," said Mrs Forster.

"That is, and will remain, our number one priority."

But while Minehead Middle is keen to stress its proposal is based on ensuring its future and that of its first school partners, the college says its concern is being able to offer options and choices for parents alongside the best education opportunities for children.

It has been working closely with Dulverton Middle for some while, providing specialist teachers at the school on a regular basis.

Deputy principal Hannah Enticott told the Free Press that the Kingsmead proposal had come as a surprise and had led the college to launch its consultation on changes to its admissions policy at the beginning of January.

Had it not done so, it would have been unable to potentially offer education for 11 and 12-year-olds - giving priority to Dulverton area children - at the same time as Kingsmead in September 2015.

"We are very keen to continue to support Dulverton and not close any doors," said Ms Enticott.

"We want parents to be able to make informed choices at the same time."

But it also emerged this week that the college, which is an academy, had been unable to seek Secretary of State approval to lower its age range as planned.

Just as it was about to do so, the Department for Education launched a consultation on what constitutes significant changes to academies.

Under the current system, lowering the age range would require formal approval but it may not in the future.

"The consultation is ongoing so effectively we are unable to progress this at the moment as no bids can be submitted," said Ms Enticott.

While Minehead Middle and Kingsmead also have academy status, the Dulverton schools are controlled by the county council, who will make the final decision on their future.

Dulverton pupils will, however, be eligible for free transport to their nearest secondary school, which depending where they live could be Kingsmead, the college or even over the border in Devon.

Initial consultations on the middle school proposal end on January 31, while the college's runs until March 1.

A drop-in session on the changes to the Dulverton schools will be held at Dulverton Town Hall from 2pm to 6pm on February 11, followed by a public meeting from 7pm to 9pm.

Anyone wanting to join the Dulverton action group can contact Mrs Ross on 01398 323818 or email [email protected]">[email protected].