THE merging of two Milford Haven primary schools could be the only way to tackle overcrowding, parents have been told.

At a public meeting on Tuesday, parents, governors and staff were asked for ideas on how Meads Infant and Nursery, Milford Haven Junior School, and St Francis Roman Catholic School could work together to meet increased future demand.

Meads school is severely overcrowded, with 114 per cent occupancy for full-time pupils.

Various building and extensions, plus two mobile classrooms, have helped house increased students numbers since 2010 – a year after the Mount School was closed – but the council claims further expansion would prove difficult.

Pupil numbers are expected to increase by 2020, with a "peak" of 839 pupils across the three schools predicted for 2017.

At present, St Francis RC has around 23 per cent empty places.

Milford Juniors has only four per cent surplus spaces, but by 2020 is expected to exceed capacity.

Huw Jones, Professional Officer, Planning Places and Admissions with Pembrokeshire County Council, admitted there was currently no funding to change primary education in the town, but said the authority was looking for ideas in case money became available.

Sonja Groves, acting headteacher at the Meads, gave an impassioned plea for any plans to take into account the deprivation suffered by many families.

“There are so many hardships in Milford Haven, so many parents on the breadline,” she said, adding that the only way to “break the cycle” was to equip parents with essential life skills, such as literacy, numeracy and cooking, and offering better health support and playgroup facilities.

She said a "super school" could be “really rewarding and exciting”, but would take “commitment and money from the council”.

Father Harri Williams, chairman of governors at the Meads, asked what support would be available to children now, to help ease current pressures, adding that being taught in mobile classrooms was unacceptable.

One parent suggested allowing St Francis to start taking nursery pupils, which could ease the pressure on the Meads, but headteacher Sue Roberts said she had approached the council about this, and was told nothing could be progressed while the current consultation was ongoing.

Several parents of St Francis pupils also said they felt ‘sidelined’ by the way the council’s consultation – which closes on April 1— was worded.

To have your say, on the future of primary education in Milford Haven, visit pembrokeshire.gov.uk/haveyoursay, or contact your local headteacher.