A SCHOOL system shake-up will make more places available for young children.

Eight of the town's infant and junior schools announced this week that they will pair up to form four "all-through" primary schools by September this year.

Croydon Council education chiefs have said the move will allow them to increase the number of school entry places to accommodate the "growing number of children" in the borough.

The schools affected will be Applegarth in New Addington, Cypress in South Norwood, All Saints in Upper Norwood and Woodside.

The council has said the schools were already "working very strongly as partner schools". However, approval still needs to be sought from the council's cabinet next week, with the hope of getting the new "all-through" set up in place in time for the new school year.

The move will be discussed at the cabinet meeting next Monday, along with amendments to the current school admission scheme.

Other amendments include giving priority places to children who have been adopted or have special guardianship orders, limiting infant class sizes to 30 pupils and bringing forward the date for objections to school places to June 30 instead of July 30.