TWO schools which teach children from a wide area of York are planning to unite, it has been revealed.

They are Our Lady's Roman Catholic Primary School and English Martyrs' Roman Catholic Primary School, which take pupils from the Acomb, Holgate, Dringhouses, Woodthorpe, Westfield and Micklegate wards.

The plan is for the two schools to remain on their own sites, but operate with one head teacher and one governing body. Parents are currently being consulted on the move which would help the schools work closely together.

A report to City of York Council's education chiefs states both schools "have had difficulty in recruiting a Roman Catholic head teacher" due to a national shortage.

Both governing bodies decided to "federate" or join up the two schools to solve the immediate problem, with a longer-term aim of merging in the future.

Figures show a decline in the demand for places, with only about 45 Roman Catholic pupils starting primary school in York each year.

At present, pupils would continue to be taught by teachers in their own schools and not have to travel between sites. But if numbers fell further, the schools could consult parents about the possibility of merging.

The report states: "The two schools will continue to be funded separately, but the governing body has the authority to combine the two budgets."

It is hoped uniting the two schools will allow staff to work with different year groups and help their professional development.

Eileen Fitzpatrick, the present head teacher, is leaving this summer and the merged school would be likely to attract a high-calibre head teacher. The two governing bodies are set to make the formal decision to federate on March 29.

There are currently 192 pupils at Our Lady's school, which includes nursery pupils, and 210 at English Martyrs'.

The head teacher said: "Federation means having a full-time permanent fixture for the new head teacher and a single governing body.

"We are looking to see if we can take this step so we can then take the bigger step - which is amalgamation of the two schools.

"The consultation is not over, but the governors are very encouraged by the level of interest. Parents are asking thoughtful questions.

"In my view it is a brave thing the governors are doing, taking note of falling numbers, they are looking at the problem strategically before they have to act by default."

Updated: 10:38 Tuesday, March 14, 2006