Council considers school closure

A secondary school in Hartlepool could close under plans to deal with falling student numbers.

The town's six secondary schools currently educate 6,500 pupils but this is expected to drop to around 5,500 over the next ten years.

Brierton Community School's closure is one of three options agreed following an initial public consultation.

The others are to keep the six schools at the same size, or retain them but make them smaller.

'Quality education'

The next stage of consultation on these options is expected to begin early next year.

Councillor Pamela Hargreaves, the council's cabinet member for children's services, said: "This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to transform secondary schools across the town and give the young people of our town the quality of education provision they deserve.

"I want to make it very clear at this stage that these are options. No decisions have been made or will be made until we have consulted fully with townspeople.

"This is without doubt one of the biggest consultation exercises ever undertaken and everyone will have the opportunity to have their say."