FIVE more Salford primary schools could close because of falling birth rates and ageing buildings.

The city council, which approved the closure of four others last week, is under pressure from the government to tackle the problem of surplus school places.

An education boss has admitted that a proposal to shut five more schools has been "floated", but stressed that no firm decisions have been made.

These schools are St Paul's C of E in Neville Road, Kersal; Lower Kersal Primary; St George's C of E in Concord Place, Charlestown; North Grecian Street Primary in Broughton; and Charlestown Primary.

They would be replaced by two new schools, one of which could be built on the derelict site of the old Lowry High, off Camp Street, in Broughton.

Rise

In 1981, the population of Salford was 240,000, but it fell every year until last year when it stood at 216,530 - a rise of 240 on the previous year.

But those coming into the city are either single or couples choosing not to start families.

The city has 84 primary schools, but all, including church schools, will be subject to a massive review this summer.

The city's education spokesman, Coun John Warmisham, said: "The idea of closing primaries in Charlestown and Kersal was floated, but no decisions have been taken. We are doing a borough-wide review and we have to look at all options.

"Some of our primary schools have up to 20 per cent empty places and, in some, the buildings are shot.

'Emotive'

"It is an emotive subject, but we have to look to the future and make difficult decisions that will have a good impact on the quality of education in the city.

"What we would like to do is build new schools and once we have information from the government regarding primary school funding we will be in a better decision to gauge if that is possible.

"We are dealing with what is a nationwide problem - falling birth rates. It is not providing best value if we have old schools, which are costly to maintain, yet have a high percentage of empty places.

"The city's population is increasing, but people are not having as many children as they used to."

The council will decide in July whether to close the schools, he added. Salford has 16 per cent of its school places empty and is aiming to reduce it to 10 per cent after prompting by government inspectors.

The five schools under threat have between 11 and 14 per cent surplus places.

Last week, the council agreed that Seedley Primary, Tootal Drive, in Weaste, Langworthy Road, and St Luke's C of E in Weaste, should close.

A new 420-place é6m school will be built on the site of the Seedley Primary and should open by 2009. It would also have a 60-place nursery.

Replacement

In Ordsall, two primary schools - St Clement (Egerton) C of E and Radclyffe - are to close. Work has started on a replacement school, which should open in 2007.

In Little Hulton, three Catholic primary schools are to close and a new one will replace them.

In the late 1990s the city saw a huge closure programme in the secondary sector with Windsor High, in Pendleton, Pope John Paul II High, in Charlestown, Kersal High and Lowry High, in Broughton, shutting.

In Little Hulton Joseph Eastham and Little Hulton Community High were merged into Harrop Fold. One new secondary school, Albion High, was opened in 2003.

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