PRIMARY schools could be axed as education chiefs look to wipe out increasing numbers of empty classroom places.

Proposals include the possible closure of Christ's Church CE Primary in Harwood and closing either Crompton Fold or Roscow Fold Primary in Breightmet because of falling pupil numbers.

A five-year review of primary school places is being carried out by Bolton Council.

Phase one of the review will look at 41 schools in the Bolton North, Central, and North-east areas.The review comes after it was found that schools in the area have a capacity of 10,456 places, but only 9,551 are filled.

There are 914 surplus places, and the figure is expected to rise by 1,661 in 2009. The schools identified have a spare capacity ranging from 13.8 per cent surplus capacity in Church Road Primary School to 41 per cent at Top o'th' Brow Primary School.

Initial proposals outlined in the consultation document drawn up by Policy Development Group - a body made up of councillors, governors, headteachers and trades union representatives - are:

l Amalgamating Harwood's Top o'th' Brow and Christ's Church CE Primary schools in new premises, subject to funding or closing Christ Church CE Primary from August 2008;

l Closing Crompton Fold or Roscow Fold Primary Schools;

l Reducing the admissions intake at Tonge Moor Primary School from 60 to 30 from September 2007;

l Reducing the intake at Church Road Community Primary School in Heaton from 60 to 30 from September 2007.

Education chiefs admit their proposals could lead to a number of job losses.

Susan Sollazzi, head of Bolton's Council's asset management and planning unit, said: "Nationally, birth rates are falling and this trend is also seen on Bolton where the number of children across the town has been reducing for some years. This reduction is expected to continue.

"We want parents, carers and everyone interested in Bolton schools to study a consultation document we have published and understand the situation, and comment on the proposals."

An informal consultation on the review is being carried out and will end on October 21, after which it will go before the council in December.

If approved, a formal statutory consultation will be held before any decisions are implemented.

Mrs Sollazzi said: "We would urge everyone to get involved at this consultation stage, people's views will be listened to and put forward. There will be public meetings where views will be noted together with written comments.

"We understand that changes to schools are very emotive but doing nothing is not an option and we want to hear what people have to say."

She added: "We want to stress that this is not a cost-cutting measure, but a move to use the resources we have more efficiently to get the best education for every child."

Copies of the consultation document can be obtained from schools and libraries and on: www.bolton.gov.uk/schools

A similar review of school places at the turn of the century resulted in the closure of The Moss Primary School in Breightmet, despite a strongly fought campaign.