SOME of Dorset's schools face closure and amalgamations as falling birth rates lead to a major shake-up in the county's education service.

Declining numbers in primary and secondary schools are prompting the county council to ask whether smaller schools should merge.

Education officer for admission and schools organisation Phil Farmer said: "It's a case of demographics - the falling birth rate, the number of second homes.

"The cost of living in Dorset means young families are not moving into the area. The young people we are losing are not being replaced by other young people."

The council is stressing that the final decision to federate or amalgamate will lie with the school concerned and will not be enforced.

A number of schools with low pupil numbers have been listed and the council proposes to discuss the option of federation or amalgamation with these schools in 2006 and 2007. Amalgamation would involve the closure of one or more schools and the formation of a single amalgamated school.

Federation involves two or more schools being run by a single head teacher and a single governing body.

Margaret Morrissey of the Dorset Federation of Parent Teacher Associations believes the possible mergers are motivated by money.

She said: "Dorset has always prided itself on maintaining its small schools and keeping children's identities within their own environment, but by federating schools they will save money from the wages of headteachers. They are the biggest wages of all."

Schools on the list include Charminster, Piddle Valley, Tophill Primary, Loders, Powerstock, Underhill Junior, Wyke Regis Infant and Juniors and Grove Infants School on Portland.

Headteacher at Grove Infants Jane Hurdiss said federating schools can be appropriate in some areas but would not welcome the move at her school.

Mrs Hurdiss said: "The governors here would resist federation because we believe there is a very special quality in small schools."

County councillors will discuss the moves at a meeting on Wednesday.