A PARENT council will hold a special meeting this evening to look at a proposed merger of two Haddington primary schools.

Haddington Infant School and King’s Meadow Primary School could merge into one school under plans revealed earlier this month.

The schools would come under one shared management team, with the current school buildings still being used.

A consultation will be launched in the New Year, when parents will officially be asked for their opinions on the idea.

Fiona Robertson, East Lothian Council’s head of education, will attend this evening's meeting, organised by the parent council of Haddington Infant School, which is being held within the movement and dance studio of Haddington Infant School at 7pm.

In a joint statement, issued after news of the proposed merger broke, May Matthews, chairwoman of Haddington Infant School Parent Council, and Meg Pathirana, chairwoman of King’s Meadow Primary School Parent Council, said: “The decision of East Lothian Council to propose the amalgamation of Haddington Infant School and King’s Meadow Primary School has come as a surprise to both parent councils.

“This idea was raised, consulted and then voted upon by parents of both schools roughly five years ago with a clear majority preferring the schools to remain separate.

“We will work in the coming weeks to determine the current views of parents and ensure these are represented.”

Haddington Infant School caters for children from nursery to Primary 3 and has a school roll of 309, with a further 40 youngsters at the nursery.

King’s Meadow Primary School, on Neilson Park Road, is home to 350 pupils in P4-7.