Bosses rethink school policy.

Byline: MIKE BLACKBURN

A NEW secondary school could be considered for Ingleby Barwick under a rethink of Stockton Council's pounds 150m plans for secondary education.

Education chiefs agreed in February to increase the number of places at All Saints School from 600 to 900 under the authority's Building Schools for the Future initiative.

But campaigners said the additional places would be too little too late, pointing to the fact that over 600 local children are currently schooled outside the estate - a figure they say is projected to exceed 1,300 by 2013.

Campaign group BOSS2 (Barwick's Own 2nd Secondary School), was set up by residents and supported by IBIS ward councillors and town councillors. Earlier this year the group handed in a 4,000 signature petition to Stockton Council demanding a new school. The petition was also presented to the speaker of the House of Commons by Stockton South MP Dari Taylor.

STRATEGY: From Cllr Alex Cunningham Stockton Council's Cabinet will hear on Thursday that three other options have now emerged "from discussions between the school communities, members and officers" into BSF options for the South of the borough.

These include: * to establish another secondary school in Ingleby Barwick * to increase the size of All Saints School beyond 900 places (with greater reductions in the size of Conyers or Egglescliffe) * or to relocate Egglescliffe School to a site within Preston Park Councillor Alex Cunningham, Stockton Council's Cabinet member for children and young people, said: "Our BSF strategy addresses the needs of young people in Eaglescliffe, Ingleby Barwick, Yarm and the surrounding area by increasing All Saints from 600 to 900 places, remodelling Conyers to provide 900 places and rebuilding Egglescliffe School on its Allen's West playing fields site to provide 1,050 places.

"We consulted communities in the south of the borough about these proposals last year and they have been approved by Government. However, if any other viable options emerge during the study a public consultation will take place to help determine the best solution to implement when the money becomes available."

Cllr Ross Patterson, lead member from IBIS on the secondary school campaign, said it's a "step in the right direction. Well over 40% of students attending Conyers and Egglescliffe Schools are from Ingleby Barwick. IBIS have always maintained that options exist to bring schools closer to their communities without impacting on the outstanding abilities these schools offer."

James Wharton, Conservative parliamentary candidate for Stockton South, has also supported the campaign for a new secondary school in Ingleby Barwick. He said: "Any plans to build a new school on Ingleby or to expand All Saints are welcome and should be pursued."

CAPTION(S):

STRATEGY: From Cllr Alex Cunningham