Councillors have called for local people’s views on plans to merge two Maltby schools.

Parents, staff and governors can voice their opinions on the proposed closure of Maltby Hall Infant School, in plans that would see its 180 pupils transferred to nearby Lilly Hall Junior School.

Rotherham Borough Council hopes the merger, which would leave one head teacher jobless, will cut costs while establishing an integrated primary school providing continuous study from age three to 11.

The proposed primary school would accommodate 420 pupils, who the council say would benefit from a single school curriculum.

David Hall, chair of governors at Lilly Hall, said the amalgamation would be good for the schools' children.

“We need a through school with all its benefits and that can be brought about by adding an infants’ block and improving the existing junior school to make Lilly Hall a first-class primary unit,” he said.

The consultation period for the plans will last until April.