WEST Somerset's three-tier system of education - first, middle and upper schools - could be revamped if changes affecting three Exmoor schools win support.

Links between Minehead's West Somerset Community College and the Exmoor Federation of Schools, which includes Dulverton Middle, All Saints First in the town and Exford First, were strengthened earlier this year with a pioneering partnership focused on sharing skills and resources.

But this week it emerged that the drive to deliver "all through" education from the cradle to 19 could see 11-year-olds from Dulverton Middle becoming full-time students at the college by September 2015.

Somerset County Council, the education authority, said that like all small rural schools in a time of very sparse funding, the three Exmoor schools were facing an uncertain future.

"Governors have been looking at what changes would be best to support pupils' learning and as a result are considering whether a restructure to bring the federation into line with National Curriculum key stages one and two is the right way forward," said a spokesman.

"This would mean a move from the current three-tier system to a two-tier education system."

However, no decision will be taken until a statutory consultation, scheduled for October, has taken place.

In a letter sent to college parents and other partner schools, college principal Gaynor Coomber and chairman of governors Martin McNeill said the details of any proposed restructuring were not entirely clear.

But they said it seemed certain that from September 2015 Dulverton pupils going into years seven and eight would attract a lower level of Government funding if they remained on the middle school roll.

"In those circumstances, we and the Exmoor Federation believe that it would be in the best interests of those young people to have the opportunity of transferring to the college."

Depending on the responses from the consultation, the college would seek Government approval to widen the age of students it can enrol from 13 to 19 to 11 to 19.

Both the college and the federation say the proposed change is driven by a determination to secure the highest quality of education for young people from Dulverton and Southern Exmoor.

Under the existing partnership, college and federation staff will be working together from this September to deliver key stage three curriculum for years seven and eight pupils from Dulverton, using college facilities when appropriate.

But the pupils will remain on the middle school roll.

At the same time, a task group of governors and senior leaders from the college and federation will be looking at teaching and learning issues across the board, including how to make effective use of the Dulverton site and the skills of the federation staff for the benefit of all West Somerset learners.

The college is also working with its other partner middle schools - Minehead and Danesfield - to improve attainment and the "learner experience".

Somerset county councillor Frances Nicholson, who represents Dulverton and Exmoor and is also cabinet member for children and families, said: "I know that governors at the Exmoor Federation have been wrestling with the impact of new Government funding rules on small, specially three-tier, schools.

"The governors, the local authority and I have only one priority: Our children must have the best possible education for the best start in life.

"The current situation cannot continue and something has to change."

Federation chairman of governors Jackie Smith said the organisation was committed to providing the very best education for pupils in its schools and to making the best use of its sites in Dulverton and Exford.

"To achieve this we are keen to do further work with parents, staff and neighbouring schools to understand the implications," she said.

The college's consultation will run until July 23, after which a decision will be made whether or not to seek Secretary of State approval for the changes.

Further consultation on admission arrangements, including how many places would be made available and how they would be allocated, would then take place.

West Somerset is currently one of the few areas of the country operating a three-tier system, with children attending a first school from five to nine years, middle school from nine to 13 and upper school from 13 to 18.