Middle schools in Bedford are to be abolished following a vote by councillors. The decision came despite a consultation which revealed that two-thirds of parents want to retain them.

Bedford Borough Council expects about #163;300 million in Building Schools for the Future funding to make the changes.

Pupils across Bedford attend lower school from ages five to nine, then middle school up to the age of 13, before moving to an upper school.

But most of the country has a two-tier system, with pupils changing schools only once, at 11.

Critics argue that children who attend middle schools go on to underperform at GCSE because of the disruption.

The three-tier system was nearly axed across the county three years ago, but bosses at Bedfordshire County Council were defeated by a rebellion of backbench Tory councillors. IB.