PARENTS and governors of East Dorset schools are to attend a debate in Ferndown about the future of educational provision in the area.

But the good news is that Ferndown, Wimborne and Verwood are unlikely to lose their middle schools.

Furious rows broke out when Dorset County Council decided to close King Alfred's in Shaftesbury and Blandford's two middle schools.

Because of the controversy the county stopped in its tracks and employed an independent consultant to see whether a holistic approach to the county should be adopted.

This happened just as Poole education authority began to consult about phasing out all its middle schools.

But the advice came back that Dorset should stick to a piecemeal approach, saving the three-tier system in places where there was no reason to change.

County education chief David Goddard said: "Round one of the debate was around the issue of whether there were grounds for going over to a common age of transfer.

"We are a large county and we should continue to value the diversity we have.

"We have large and small schools, faith and community schools."

The consultant had found there was not money in the capital budget nor educational need to change everywhere, he added.

Wimborne's Allenbourn, Verwood's Emmanuel and Ferndown Middle are likely to survive.

"I don't see why they should worry," Mr Goddard said.

"We can never say 'never' and if rolls fall dramatically it's our responsibility to take action but we would expect to maintain that pattern of provision."

The meeting takes place at Ferndown Middle School at 6.30pm on June 8.

First published: May 20