A RELATIVELY small amount of redundancies will take place as a result of the merger of Tavistock's two private schools, it was confirmed this week, as the union became legal. Kelly College and Mount House School have joined to become the Mount Kelly Foundation — a move first talked about after World War II, but which has only now come to fruition following one of the longest recessions in history. The merger will secure the future of the schools and aims to take the best from each, to create one of the leading co-educational day and boarding schools in the South West. Acting chair of the Mount Kelly Foundation and former chair of governors at Kelly College, Rear Admiral Christopher Snow, said redundancies were inevitable but the merger had come at a time when some of the 'excellent and long standing' staff from Kelly Preparatory School were leaving as they had come to retirement age. The senior school will remain on the Kelly College site but the prep schools are combining on the Mount House campus just across the river from September. The foundation will employ 170 staff. It is hoped to create a sporting centre at Kelly Preparatory School, which will now be known as the Hazeldon site, as it is the preferred option for the 50m Olympic legacy pool. Discussions are also taking place regarding the installation of a new Astro pitch. Mr Snow said an offer had been made to staff regarding voluntary redundancy and several members had elected to do that. 'Over the next week to ten days we will know more about the compulsory redundancies but we expect it to be a relatively small number,' he said. 'Our aim all the way through has been to look after our staff as best we can because we know this is a very unsettling time.' Mr Snow said there had been mixed reactions from parents, some nervous, some excited: 'We have talked to the parents as much as we could and many have accepted the move. 'We have had a huge number of letters of support but as far as we are concerned the proof will be in the way we deliver education in September. 'We are all geared up for this great challenge and are looking forward to it.' Both Mount House and Kelly have seen a decline in the pupil intake over the last few years — last year eight redundancies were made at Kelly College and the traditional weekend academic lesson time was changed to include a broad range of co-curriculum activities from sport to art to make the school more appealing. Mr Snow said Kelly had always been about developing the whole individual and Mount House had a terrific record of academic achievement: 'This new foundation will bring the best of both schools together and we will get the best out of every child, whether a high academic achiever or someone more focused on co-curriculum activities. 'There will be a great balance in our new school. 'With a hugely dedicated and caring staff, outstanding facilities and located within beautiful surroundings, the school's future is incredibly exciting.'