SOME primary schools in Newport may be left fighting for pupils as city education chiefs try to deal with a drop in pupil numbers.

A new report says there will be a 10 per cent decline in primary school pupil numbers over the next five years.

The recorded September intake of pupils into Newport primary schools for 2003 is 12,943 - but that figure is expected to drop to 11,627 by 2008.

The city council's School Organisation Plan shows some schools already have significant numbers of surplus places, while others are full. And it says the further drop in numbers will not be evenly spread.

The 12-month review, due to begin in May of this year, will be discussed by the Overview and Scrutiny Forum for Young People's Services on Tuesday.

The forum proposes to solve the problem of schools in areas of the city with too few, or too many, on their roll, by transferring pupils. Parents would be consulted before any decisions to do so were taken.

Forum chairman Councillor Ron Morris said Newport is currently in a very good position with more pupils in school than many other local authorities in Wales.

"But if we do nothing now then we may face problems in the future with a general trend of less children being born," he said.

"Schools in certain areas may suffer, which wouldn't be fair.

"We may just be doing a little tweaking round the edges, but good planning now is what's needed to avoid later problems."

Heather Vaughan, head teacher of St Woolos Primary School, welcomed the review, saying: "Different schools will have different catchment areas, each one with a unique nature and its own problems. Some have large pockets of student housing as opposed to established families and professionals.

"Our numbers have gone up over the last two years and projections indicate that they will continue to rise but things can change - it is a concern for every school.

"Any well thought out process that can be taken to alleviate these concerns will be beneficial."

Members of the forum will visit every primary school within Newport.