A BID to merge two Haddington primary schools to create a new school has been given the thumbs-up by Scottish Ministers – but who the headteacher will be is unclear.

Plans to close Haddington Infant School and King’s Meadow Primary School were revealed last autumn.

East Lothian Council intends to create a new primary school, operating from the existing school buildings, which will cover nursery through to primary seven. The proposal was approved by East Lothian Council in April after a public consultation. It has now also been approved by the Scottish Government.

Combined, the two schools currently have a school roll of about 700 pupils. However, it remains unclear who the new headteacher for the primary school, which is yet to be named, will be.

Current headteacher Seonaid McGillivray is set to be appointed at another as yet unnamed school in the county, with the final details expected to be tied up within a matter of days.

Fiona Robertson, head of education at East Lothian Council, said: “We believe that the decision to establish one new primary school, operating under a single management structure, offers the best solution to not only developing a stronger and more cohesive curriculum, but that local children will benefit from improved progression planning and transition as they progress from infant to upper stage.

“Our education service will work closely with our current headteacher Mrs McGillivray, and the chairs of both parent councils, to recruit a headteacher for the newly established school.”

She added: “I would like to take this opportunity to thank Mrs McGillivray for her service and leadership of King’s Meadow Primary School and more recently Haddington Infant School. We have written to staff and parents to advise them of this decision.”