Changes to primary education have been approved to keep children in three parts of Bristol at the same school until they are 11.

The Office of the Schools Adjudicator agreed to plans for new schools in Sea Mills, Lawrence Weston and Victoria Park.

And consultation has begun over a fourth site, Air Balloon Hill in St George, over merging the junior and infant schools.

The city council believes all-through primary schools – for four- to 11-year-olds – improve children's education, and is providing better children's centres to support families.

The plan for Sea Mills is to build a £5 million combined children's centre and 210-place primary school on the site of the junior school in Riverleaze – although initially, from September, all pupils will be taught in the infant school buildings in Hallen Drive.

The council believes the new school will be more convenient for families and will benefit children's education. It will also reduce the number of empty school places in Sea Mills.

The adjudicator's report noted: "The council's projections suggest that the new school will not be full for the foreseeable future.

"Nonetheless, I accept the council's view that it is highly desirable that the community be served by its own school, and that the school should have the capacity to meet potential future demand."

It concluded: "The proposal represents a good response to the changing circumstances in this part of the city."

A combined primary school and children's centre is also being created in Lawrence Weston, in the buildings of Weston Park Primary and Bluebell Valley Nursery Schools. The school will maintain Bluebell Valley's provision for children with special needs.

The adjudicator said the proposals for the schools to form a transitional federation should make a significant contribution to a successful launch in 2010.

"The proposed organisation will not in itself improve the academic standards achieved by the children, but it will provide the conditions which make this a very real prospect," the report said about Sea Mills and Lawrence Weston.

The primary school for Victoria Park, joining the infant and junior schools, will increase the number of places to 525 to meet increasing demand. A £1.5m building programme is planned.

The adjudicator agreed with the council's view that an amalgamated school would build on the strengths of both schools.

"I consider that continuity and progression through the primary years is best secured by avoiding school transfer between infant and junior schools," he said.

"The resources of the combined staff will be available to children of all ages, and staff will have the opportunity of wider teaching opportunities."

A public meeting was held at Air Balloon Hill School last week to explain the amalgamation plans, which would create a 630-place primary in the current buildings. Parents and have until February 13 to comment.