Axe falls on Forbury School

The campaign to save Forbury School has failed, with Education Minister Anne Tolley announcing the South Dunedin primary school will close at the end of the year.

The school community had organised street marches and a petition with more than 7500 signatures in a bid to keep the school open.

But this has failed to sway Mrs Tolley and the school will now merge with Macandrew Intermediate on the Macandrew site to form a years 1-8 primary school.

The move comes as part of a South Dunedin schools review which will also include the merger of College Street School, Caversham School, and Calton Hill School.

These three schools will become one full primary school on the site of the present Caversham School, with a second campus at Calton Hill.

Mrs Tolley cited declining pupil numbers in a statement explaining the decision.

She said boards of trustees would shortly be appointed to the merged schools "to guide the school communities through this time of change."

It is expected the changes to schooling in South Dunedin will be in place for the 2012 school year.