PARENTS have been told that failing to go ahead with a federation between special schools could see one facing closure in the future.

Governors at Newcastle-based Blackfriars School and Coppice School began discussing a link back in April as they looked to safeguard both facilities.

Last night key figures described how a combined governing body and shared executive headteacher would make both schools stronger in the face of potential future cutbacks.

But they stressed that each school would retain its own headteacher and budget under the proposals and that, should plans go ahead in April, either side could withdraw if the arrangement did not work out.

And it has been made clear that existing staff will not lose their jobs. But they will have the chance to work across the sites and learn new skills – should they wish to do so.

Sandra Baker, headteacher at Coppice in Abbots Way, Newcastle said: "There are many advantages to a federation."

After much work, the proposal was last night presented to parents as part of a consultation exercise.

And they asked Mrs Baker, Coppice chairman of governors Christine Hanlon, Blackfriars headteacher Clive Lilley and Blackfriars chairman of governors Steve Cartwright what they had in mind.

The key players argued a federation would:

Boost buying power and increase the chance of a new building under future phases of Staffordshire County Council's Building Schools for the Future programme.

Ensure efficient decisions are promptly made by a single governing body of around 25 members and that there is no duplication of effort or resource.

Enable each school to retain its own identity and budget, while sharing facilities and staff expertise.

Improve the quality of learning and promote a "family" feel between the two schools.

Mr Lilley said: "Together we will be much a much stronger school than we would be as two separate ones.

"We do not want to be in competition because it is just pointless and wastes everyone's energy and time."

Mrs Baker added: "Both schools have different staffing skills and we will have to look at how to use staff more efficiently, but it should not affect posts at all because that is not in the proposal."

Staff and unions had already been briefed on the scheme.

The school leaders said budgets would not be affected by the plans and future funding would continue to be maximised, but warned a failure to go ahead could result in a weaker bargaining position in the future.

Mr Cartwright said: "At the moment we are in control of our destiny rather than pushed to do something.

"But one gets the feeling that the nationwide problem of falling numbers will reach one or other of the schools and it will be unsustainable."

Governors are now inviting written responses from interested parties before November 25 so that they can make a final decision. If successful, a 'shadow' governing body will be formed to set the ball rolling.

The plan will leave Merryfields School in Wolstanton, as the only council-run special school in Newcastle for three to 11-year-olds.

Blackfriars, in Priory Road, Newcastle, will phase out its early years and primary provision, something Mr Lilley described as the "biggest negative" of the federation.

But the school's post-16 facility would remain in Bucknall.

Another consultation meeting will be held at Blackfriars at 7pm next Tuesday.