More schools may merge next year because of falling numbers and the forthcoming resignation of a head.

There was controversy in Brighton and Hove last year when junior and infant schools at Whitehawk and Moulsecoomb merged. The Carden schools also came together.

Now the education authority is looking at merging the junior and infant schools in Coldean. The infants school has been in special measures since last year.

Another merger could be formed between Knoll Infants School in Hove and Goldstone Junior School, although they are not on the same site.

The head of Knoll is to resign in January next year and the school is well below capacity at present with falling numbers.

If education cabinet councillor Frieda Warman-Brown agrees at a meeting on Wednesday, merger talks will take place with the governors, staff, parents and the community with a view to amalgamation in September next year.

The council has also looked at merging the infants and junior schools at West Blatchington and merging Davigdor Infants with Somerhill Junior in Hove.

At present, the recommendation is against mergers - but at West Blatchington, numbers are still well below par.

The District Auditor has commented on the level of extra places in primary schools in the two towns.

Assistant education director Ged Rowney said: "He feels further consideration should be given to reducing these surplus places."

At Coldean, the two governing bodies have already talked with the council about amalgamation and Mr Rowney said: "These discussions appear to favour investigating the merger of the two schools."