A couple of secondary schools in Burnham are having talks about merging.

Burnham Grammar School and Lent Rise School are proposing to join forces following the closure of E-ACT Burnham Park Academy in July this year.

The closure of Burnham Park Academy means there is only one secondary school in the village.

The two schools have been having discussions with Buckinghamshire County Council and the Regional Schools Commissioner about opening a new secondary school in Burnham on the Opendale Road site.

A public meeting about the potential idea will take place next Thursday, October 10 at Burnham Community Library.

It will begin at 7pm.

Jill Watson, headteacher at Lent Rise School said: “This would be an entirely new school and an entirely new offer to parents in the community.

"Lent Rise School and Burnham Grammar would be working closely together to ensure that all students experience an inspirational, supportive, engaging and demanding curriculum that enables every child to be their best.

"With our combined strengths we are convinced we can offer an excellent secondary school education."

Dr Andrew Gillespie, head master at Burnham Grammar School then added: "This is a sad end to a school that has served the Burnham community well for much of its 50 year history.

"Of greater concern, however, is the potential impact on local children.

"There are already at least 18 classes of year six pupils a within 10-minute walk of Opendale Road.

"As house-building programmes gather pace soon, students from Burnham will not be able to gain places in neighbouring county schools as they would live too far away.

"At the present time Burnham students will either go to Burnham Grammar School, to Bourne End Academy or to a secondary school in Slough or Maidenhead.

"Although many of these schools offer an excellent education, there is no guarantee that they will always have room for so many students outside their catchment.

"Quite simply there is a very clear danger that children in Burnham may have very limited options in future for secondary education if they do not attend Burnham Grammar School."