TWO York primary schools are to join forces after parents gave the move the thumbs-up.

Clifton Without Juniors and Rawcliffe Infant School will "federate" with effect from April 4.

The schools would remain as distinct, separate entities, but will have a joint governing body and one head teacher, Chris Wigley.

The federation is seen as the first step towards the schools' ambition of eventually amalgamating on one site, should capital funding become available in the future.

There are 287 pupils on the roll at Rawcliffe and 285 at Clifton Without and currently Clifton Without head master Mr Wigley is acting as head teacher at both schools - an arrangement that suits parents, governors and staff at both schools.

At Clifton there are 12 teachers and at Rawcliffe there are eight plus one nursery manager and the head teacher. The schools share 20 teaching assistants.

Mr Wigley said: "The schools already work very closely together. However, the new arrangement will of course provide considerable benefits for families in the local area.

"This combined provision for three to 11-year-olds will offer far greater educational and social continuity, a wider range of teacher expertise and one set of common aims and values to reflect strong community spirit and support."

The governing body of a federation school is responsible for the two schools separately, but can share funding and resources between them.

Parents of pupils at the two schools, who had until February 28 to reply to a letter asking for their comments, gave a positive feedback. The decision has the full approval of City of York Council.

Stuart Rawlings, chairman of Governors at Rawcliffe, said: "I'm extremely pleased because we really feel that it's in the best interests of the children, the parents, the staff and the community as a whole."

Coun Carol Runciman, council education chief, said: "I did feel that there was a lot of support from the local community for this and this decision just confirms that.

"I think that the two schools will now go from strength to strength under one strong head and I'm sure they will go on to better and better things in the future."

Last year the Evening Press reported that small rural schools in North Yorkshire could possibly join together in confederations, and Warthill and Sandhutton primary schools now share one head teacher.

Updated: 10:33 Friday, March 18, 2005