Academy is axed.

Byline: By Peter Young

Controversial plans for a flagship city academy have been axed as Newcastle's new Liberal Democrat-controlled council unveiled priorities for education.

Incoming council leader Peter Arnold said the pounds 20 million project, in the city's West End would damage existing schools such as All Saints College and Westgate College.

The council later confirmed it does not have plans to pursue the development of a cioty academy.

Education is a top Lib Dem priority and they have plans to set up an Educational Attainment Commission to improve the city's exam results ( near the bottom of the national league table.

Labour plans to shut three middle schools in the outer west area, which led to protests, are also under review although Coun Arnold said it may be too late to reverse this.

However, he gave an assurance that the Lib Dems have no intention of tinkering with the three-tier schools system in Gosforth.

The City Academy, in Scotswood, was part of Labour's Going for Growth regeneration plan.

Coun Arnold said: "There's no need for it. We have to support our local schools and nobody has demonstrated the need for another large West End secondary.

"If there is a need for another school many Lib Dems have grave reservations about a city academy, particularly one financed by religious organisations." The Education Commission, chaired by an independent expert, will take evidence, seeking to establish why Newcastle under-performs. It will recommend improvements by June 2005.

Coun Arnold said schools, teachers and the council are often praised in Ofsted reports, yet the city continues to do poorly in exams.

"We have some ideas, and hopefully the Commission will tell us if these are right," said Coun Arnold, himself a former teacher and education officer with Gateshead Council.

"There is a view in some areas that it doesn't matter if you go to school and get good qualifications as you are still bound for the dole. We've got to change that."

Coun Arnold said: "We want an independent exercise that is going to have credibility with the community."

He also explained how the Lib Dems intend to replace Going for Growth with new regeneration projects, agreed with the community. It aimed to revive communities with new houses, firms, jobs, shops, transport, health and education facilities but the large scale demolition of homes caused uproar.

Coun Arnold said: "We are 100% in favour of regeneration but Going for Growth was badly thought out and hadn't been discussed with residents, therefore it was bound to fail.

"We are going to review all the plans, and agreements entered into will be honoured. But we want a sustainable regeneration policy which is grassroots based. We must listen to people."