Report by Katie Chapman

Supporting the merger plan, John Barnes (right) chairman of the boys' school governors, with Neil Slater, activity head at the school.

    DOVER Girls' and Boys' Grammar Schools could merge by next September, if parents and county councillors agree to proposals by governors.
    Governors at the Boys' Grammar want to move to the site of Castlemount School which is due for closure in 1991.
    They propose to start at the new site with a mixed sixth form before going ahead with a full merger.    The idea has been met with cautious approval from the governors at the girls' school, who already support a combined sixth form.
    John Barnes, chairman of the boys' school governing body, said he supports the merger because it will mean a wider range of courses on offer for pupils and more money to spend on equipment.
    "Under formula funding and local management, falling rolls mean that the schools individually will have less money and may have to drop courses if too few pupils show interest.
    "Eventually, there won't be enough pupils to provide the wide curriculum which is required, "he said.
    The governors have been discussing the idea for the past year and now want to meet with the girls' school to discuss practicalities.
    "Even though some people may be loath to leave the boys' school, we felt that we should put the education of our children first and share resources to provide better opportunities," he added.
    Mr. Barnes agreed that some parents may want to keep the schools separate and have the choice to send their children to a single sex school in Dover.
    "The small advantages of single sex schools are outweighed by the advantages of a merger. The new schools will have a larger staff and a full curriculum," he said.
    But Amelia Williamson, chairman of the girls' school board of governors gave a more guarded response.
    "It's very early days yet and we haven't even had a meeting with the bays' school. We fully support the establishment of a joint sixth form, but we have to consider the merger question a little bit more carefully.
    "All we have agreed is that discussions should start soon," she said.
    The merger will be raised in the Kent County Council School's Subcommittee on 14 November and if an agreement is reached, there will be full consultation with parents and the Public before a decision is taken.