A MAJOR shake up of special schools in Hyndburn has been announced.

Lancashire County Council plans to shut one school and move two others to be co-located at a primary school and high school.

After a consultation education bosses plan to close: • North Cliffe School, Great Harwood, on August 31, 2011.

• White Ash School, Oswaldtwistle, and open it as a community special school for primary education on September 1, 2011, at a partner mainstream primary school.

• Broadfield School and open a community special school for secondary education on September 1, 2011, co-located in new premises of Hollins High School, as part of the Building Schools for the Future developments.

Council bosses said the re-organisation followed extensive consultations during which bosses considered an emphasis on including children and young people in mainstream schools, establishing separate primary and secondary special schools and locating special and mainstream schools together.

This proposed approach has been discussed and agreed with the headteachers and governing bodies of all three schools, according to the county council.

Great Harwood Coun Ciaran Wells said: “As long as it is done sensitively with members of staff, students and parents people should be happy, the provisions would improve education greatly once improved.”

Helen Denton, executive director for children and young people at the county, said: "Should they be approved, these proposals would enable us to access the funding we need to ensure that we have state-of-the-art special schools worthy of our children and young people.

“We recognise the potential for disruption and, if the outcome of the consultation supports our proposals, we shall continue to work very closely with the schools to ensure that the transition from three to two schools is managed as smoothly as possible."