Talks about a proposed college merger in Eastbourne have been described as an important watershed by headteachers.

Six secondary school headteachers met this week with Henry Ball, chief executive of the Learning Skills Council in East Sussex, to discuss concerns over the proposed merger between Sussex Downs and Park Colleges.

Mark Dawkins, headteacher at Cavendish School, Eastbourne, said: "It went very well. We had a very frank discussion with Mr Ball.

"We have agreed to be involved in the consultation exercise and the Eastbourne secondary heads will meet with the corporations and principals of both colleges and the Learning Skills Council to look at the proposal in detail.

"It is our students who will be going on to these colleges and we need to understand what is going on. It has been an important watershed in providing a dialogue."

The meeting of all those involved will take place in two weeks.

Dr John Blake, principal of Sussex Downs College, announced the colleges were planning to merge last year.

Park College in Kings Drive, Eastbourne, is mainly used as an A-level centre while Sussex Downs, with campuses in Eastbourne, Lewes and Newhaven, offers a range of more practical courses.

Headteachers in the town had voiced concerns the merger would take away choices for students who preferred studying in a smaller community.