Witham's secondary schools could be merged into one super-school, making it one of the largest in Essex.

New Rickstones Academy has suffered low pupil numbers, which may not rise for some years yet, but Maltings Academy is oversubscribed.

This has been blamed on a focus on new housing in the south of the town, rather than the north and falling student numbers in Essex.

The Academies Enterprise Trust (AET), which sponsors both schools, is considering amalgamating them from September 2016 to secure their long term future, enhance education for the town’s children and attract the best teachers.

A public consultation runs until November 7.

School heads and governors will also hold consultation events at Maltings on October 2 and New Rickstones on October 9, both at 7pm.

* Full story in this week's Witham Times.