The proposals for the City of Preston High form part of a shake-up which would also see Ashton Community Science College setting up its own sixth form.

The plans announced today mean City of Preston could close at the end of next year and its Ribbleton Hall Drive premises run by Ashton as a vocational centre for 14-18 year olds as part of a new diploma programme.

The Ashton high school has already agreed to take over the premises, and City of Preston's 287 pupils, as part of its plans to become an 11-18 school.

Letters were due to be sent out to parents and staff from both schools have been briefed.

The move comes just a term after Tulketh Community Sports College closed and pupils merged with Fulwood High School and Arts College – now destined to become a city academy.

City of Preston, which was formerly Ribbleton Hall High School, boasts England cricketer Andrew Flintoff as one of its most famous former pupils.

The school was placed in Special Measures by Ofsted in March 2007 and is one of the county's handful of National Challenge Schools, which means less than 30% of pupils gain five or more A-C passes including English and maths and the school is unlikely to reach and maintain that target by 2011.

This summer saw just 8% of pupils with five or more passes with English and maths compared to Ashton's 47%.

The school, which has a capacity of 750 pupils, has just 287 on the roll, with 21 putting it down as their first choice for September.

Ashton, by contrast, is regularly oversubscribed.

Under the proposals, which are expected to go out to consultation in weeks, the City of Preston pupils would finish their studies at the Ribbleton site but form part of Ashton Community Science College.

The National Union of Teachers, which has a large number of members in both schools, welcomed the plan.

County Secretary Ken Cridland said Ribbleton staff had been worried for some time about their future because of dwindling pupil numbers.

He added: "This is a strategic plan, involving thinking ahead rather than just closing the school and we welcome this as a workable solution.

"Our members at City of Preston have been worried and we are looking forward to working with the county council to make sure we do the best for pupils and staff."

A staff member at Ashton Community Science College, who asked not to be named, said: "We have been promised our jobs are not at risk, that is all they have said."

Brian Rollo, a Preston councillor for Ribbleton and member of the governing body at the City of Preston High School, said: "The governing body is very unhappy about it but there is nothing much we can do.

"There are a lot of challenging pupils here.

"We think the school as it exists is the best place for these children."

More reaction in Saturday's LEP.

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