The future of education is being reviewed because of an expected fall in pupils numbers, surplus places and �30m for schools after last year's floods.

The 'initial soundings' include closing a school, or merging others and setting up an academy.

Cumbria County Council stresses this is the very first stage of the process and there will be full consultation.

In September 2005, the council's cabinet decided to carry out a countywide review of all schools in Cumbria.

Full consultation

Local Partnership Groups (LPG) have been set up in five areas around the county to come up with outline options for the future.

The LPG for the Carlisle area decided to concentrate on secondary education because there is due to be a 21% fall in secondary pupil numbers over the next 10 year and unfilled secondary schools places will rise by up to 33% by 2017.

The government has earmarked �30m for the development of schools following the floods in January last year.

People with an interest in education are being asked their views and the options will be considered by the council's cabinet at the beginning of May to decide which ones will go forward to full consultation.