£150m school plan put to public

A £150m secondary school modernisation programme on Teesside is being put before the public.

Stockton Council has drawn up a series of proposals to improve facilities and deal with an expected 1,500 drop in pupil numbers over the next 10 years.

The aim is to replace existing school buildings, most of which are more than 30 years old, with modern ones.

A 24-page booklet detailing the plans is now being distributed to householders across the region.

A series of public meetings, taking in all 14 secondary schools and allowing parents, pupils, staff and governors to have their say, will begin on 29 October

Councillor Alex Cunningham, cabinet member for children and young people, said: "There have been no decisions yet. If you want to suggest another option, tell us.

"There is plenty of time to consider any viable proposal but we are only consulting on options we believe are viable and achievable.

"I urge everyone to take this opportunity to tell us their views."