Middle school headteachers are seeking crunch talks before a crucial decision on the future of the city's three-tier system.

The county's education committee will next month be considering whether to go ahead with a review of education in Oxford city centre, which could lead to a major restructuring of schools.

The city, which has first, middle and upper schools, has a different system to the rest of Oxfordshire, where pupils move directly from primary to secondary schools.

But opinions are divided over whether the city should be brought into line with the rest of the county.

Headteachers of the city's middle schools, who met on Thursday, are eager to discuss the matter with councillors before December 22.

The education committee will then consider whether there should be a review.

Paul Reast, head of Wesley Green Middle School, Blackbird Leys, said: "We're all extremely strong supporters of middle schools.

"There's a lot of evidence that suggests the middle schools' ethos is extremely strong."

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