Pupils, parents and staff face disruption if plans to re-organise Otley's primary schools are not amended, a head teacher has warned.

Leeds City Council's education chiefs are proposing to replace three infant, one junior and a primary school in the town with three new primary schools.

Their aim is to cut surplus places - with some schools being only three-quarters full.

But Ann Lister, head teacher at Westgate Infants School, said: "We do support the LEA's proposals to create the new primary schools and were thrilled when we heard the draft proposal that we should become a primary school as we believe we could build on our experience as an infants school.

"But it's the route they're proposing to take which myself, the governing body and parents are unhappy about.

"We have an excellent team with a proven track record but the proposal is that the infants school shuts and re-opens as a new primary.

"That will involve myself and all staff having to re-apply for our jobs and the governing body being re-formed, creating a lot of uncertainty, disruption and upheaval - things the children notice."

She added: "Although the Council has said staff could be re-recruited that's not guaranteed. We could end up with the children coming back to a school with a totally different staff.

"A lot of parents would have great concern about sending their children back in those circumstances.

"They're very supportive of the change and have said they wished their children didn't have to leave Westgate at seven but they want it to be the Westgate they know."

Mrs Lister said her pupils needed the continuity and stability of staying with staff they were familiar with.

Mrs Lister said the school would put its case at a public meeting tomorrow at 7.15pm at Prince Henry's Grammar School.

She urged parents and anyone else with views on the matter to attend.

Councillor Tom Murray, the Council's executive board member for lifelong and leisure, said: "I fully understand that many parents, children and staff are greatly concerned by these proposed changes and we really need to hear the views of the people most directly affected by them.

"Such decisions cannot be taken lightly and we'll be making every effort to make sure any disruption to staff and children is reduced to a minimum.''