A SCHOOL may close and two others could be moved as part of a £90m scheme to re-shape education.

Hartlepool Borough Council's cabinet has agreed to draw up proposals for the closure of the town's Brierton Community School, and the possibility of relocating Catcote School and Springwell School, which both cater for special needs, may be considered.

The recommendations follow six months of public consultation to shape a council bid for up to £90m from the Government's Building Schools for the Future (BSF) initiative.

To secure the money, Hartlepool must put forward a detailed strategy explaining how it would use the money to tackle the challenges, in particular a projected fall in secondary pupils by 1,000 over the next ten years.

The three options considered included keeping the six schools as they are, making them smaller, and closing Brierton School.

The council cabinet heard that the consultation revealed strong support for the closure of Brierton School, with more than 70 per cent of respondents in favour, due to the predicted big fall in numbers, poor buildings, and stagnant pupil performance.

Councillor Pamela Hargreaves, cabinet member for children's services, said: "There is nothing more important than ensuring that Brierton students are fully supported through this process. Everything will be done to ensure that their education is not affected."

The proposed closure is in August 2009, but more consultations will follow.