CONSULTATION on a Yate primary school's bid to join part of the first all-through academy in the region has now closed.

The public was asked what it thought of a proposal to link Woodlands Primary School with Yate International Academy and form one independent academy for three to 19-year-olds.

The idea has been agreed by governors at Woodlands concerned about the future financing of schools and would see the primary school joined with The Ridings’ Federation of Academies, which currently encompasses Yate and Winterbourne academies, formerly King Edmund Community School and The Ridings’ High School.

South Gloucestershire Council is now examining the results of the consultation. If approved, Woodlands will have to be legally closed before it can reopen as part of the academy.

A spokesman said: "The legal closure, if it goes ahead, does not mean the removal of the Woodlands school places or buildings.

"The academy proposal will ensure that all children at Woodlands, or about to join, will have places at the expanded Yate International Academy and the Woodlands buildings would remain in use.

"In practice, Woodlands would become the primary phase within Yate International Academy."

The school and the academy are situated next to each other on Sundridge Park.

Parents of pupils at Woodlands, which only opened last September on the site of King’s Court Primary School after it amalgamated with Rodford Primary School, were consulted earlier this year. When the Gazette visited the school in January, the majority of parents were in favour of the idea.

However, town councillors have expressed concern over the integration.

Cllr Alan Lawrance said he was aware other primary schools in Yate had been approached with an invitation to join the federation.

"I ask the question 'Is an empire being built?'" he told a meeting of the town council.

"I have no difficulty if this is going to improve the education of our young people but I would not be happy if it has anything to do with empire building."