Parents are being asked their views on a £60 million shake-up of Crawley's schooling system.

They have joined teachers, councillors and school governors in the first stage of consultations on proposals to create mainly all-through primary schools.

It will mean continuity for pupils, who will stay at one school from age four to 11 instead of leaving first schools at eight to go to middle schools until they are 12.

The current pattern of schooling in most of Crawley means most children move to secondary education at 12.

West Sussex County Council wants to bring the age of transfer down to 11, in line with the rest of the county.

The proposals also include the £60 million Government cash injection to build a new secondary school and rebuild several others.

Three schools are also proposed for closure, two in Southgate and one in West Green.

It will give West Sussex County Council an opportunity to create the additional 1,200 secondary pupil places that changing the age of transfer from 12 to 11 in September 2004 will require.

Councillor David Dewdney believed the plans would make it easier for parents to get their children to school and give children more opportunities.

He used the example of a family with three children at three different schools and said having all-through primary schools would give parents a chance to spend less time running their children about and more time getting involved in the school community.

He said: "Both as a councillor and as a governor at a first and middle school, and as a grandparent, I think it is a first class idea.

"It would benefit the youngsters and it would benefit the staff in as much as it is better to have a reasonable sized school than a small school."

Coun Dewdney said children in all-through primary schools would get the chance to participate in more activities because there would be more teachers rather than one or two covering several subjects.

He said: "It is better to have a school in your neighbourhood that is well maintained. I don't think we have been able to maintain them as they should be.

"Certainly the plans for secondary schools are ambitious and of course it's the detail which will determine just how well they are.

"The fewer moves a child has, the better."

Councillor Chris Mullins said: "I think in the end it will prove to be a positive thing. It is less disturbing for children, with more continuity.

"Of course what happens in the school needs to be reorganised but I am a little bit concerned about teachers having to reapply for their jobs and the three school closures are cause for concern."

There are also plans for a new secondary school in Maidenbower, plans to rebuild Thomas Bennett Community College and Ifield Community College and re-model Hazelwick School Sally Greenwell, Cabinet Member for Education and the Arts, said: "This whole programme is about increasing the opportunities for children of all ages in Crawley through additional pre-school provision, improved facilities for primary schools and providing four secondary schools.

"Changing the age of transfer is just one element in helping children reach their full potential through excellence in education."

The proposals going out for consultation involve the merging of some first and middle schools to form all-through schools, some first schools becoming infants schools and some middle schools becoming junior schools.

Six schools will have nursery classes, with more planned.

A spokeswoman for the county council said as well as the PFI the council was planning on putting in £16 million of its own money.