THE scrapping of south Wiltshire's middle schools - the biggest shake-up in education since the 1970s - looked a racing certainty this week.

At the annual meeting of Wiltshire county council on Tuesday, councillors threw their weight behind a proposal to axe the five schools, despite passionate objections put forward by parents and governors.

Their proposal, if rubber-stamped later this year, will mean the closure of Avon and Fisherton Manor middle schools in Salisbury, Wilton Middle, Nadder Middle at Tisbury and Duchy Manor Middle at Mere.

It will also spell the end of three-tier education system in Wiltshire, which was set up in the 1970s.

Under the proposed new arrangements, pupils would attend primary schools until 11 and then move on to secondary schools, rather than going on at 13 as under the current system.

Tuesday's decision now goes to the School Organisation Committee, an independent body made up of five groups: the Local Education Authority and representatives of Salisbury Diocese, the Roman Catholic Church, schools and the Learning and Skills Council.

It will be advertised in the local press and people will have two months to raise objections.

The proposal and objections will go to the committee before Christmas and all five groups must agree unanimously.

If they do not, the matter will be decided by a school inspector nominated by the government.

After the meeting, parents vowed to continue their battle to save the schools.

Phil Matthews, of Wilton, pledged: "We shall fight on and, once the notice is published, I urge all parents to object to this proposal."