DESPITE huge Government cuts to education, council chiefs have announced construction of the £6.3 million amalgamated Highbridge school is unaffected.

Somerset County Council has said building work on the multi-million pound Churchfield Primary School, which merges St John's Junior and Beechfield Infants – will go ahead.

Councillor John Osman, cabinet member for children and young people, said: "The council is pleased to say it has secured cash from the Government's Primary Capital Programme, so the amalgamation of the two schools to form one primary will continue."

Amalgamation of the two Burnham Road schools is due to be completed by the new school year in September, while building work on the new school takes place.

The completed building is set to open by September 2012.

Either the 208-pupil St John's, described by the council as not lending itself to 21st century learning, or Beechfield, with 199 pupils, or both, will be demolished and rebuilt to form a 420-pupil, 14-class primary for ages four to 11.

The council has said it will not save money from merging.

Mr Osman said: "Amalgamation enables the strengths present in both schools to combine and contribute to high quality education provision within one primary school setting.

"The most significant advantages are the removal of the transition from infant to junior school, which detracts from pupils' learning and to improve chances to build longer relationships with parents as children progress through seven years of schooling."

The Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, who has the final say on such plans, approved the merger as the Government encourages changes that benefit education. The decision came in spite of a petition of over 30 concerned parents sent to the council.