SCHOOLS in Stockton are to be overhauled in a £150m project that will see every school modernised or rebuilt.

Council chiefs have hailed the Government-backed programme as the biggest school building programme in the town for more than half a century.

It is part of the Government's Building Schools for the Future initiative, which aims to see every secondary school brought up to standard or replaced during the next decade.

Stockton Borough Council's cabinet will be asked to start a public consultation on the scheme when it meets next Thursday.

Councillor Alex Cunningham, cabinet member for children and young people, said: "This will be a massive investment in the future of Stockton.

"It is a tremendous opportunity to provide first-rate learning facilities to meet the needs of our young people for years to come.

"It is the most exciting thing that is going to happen to education in the borough, ever, and it is bound to make a big difference."

Coun Cunningham said student numbers were expected to fall by 1,500 in the next ten years, and this would mean changes in the number and sizes of schools.

There are about 13,000 places for 11 to-16-year-olds, but fewer than 12,000 pupils. This is predicted to fall to about 10,500 by 2018.

Following early consultation with headteachers and college principals, the council has divided the borough into four areas and identified two options for each.

These will be explained in a detailed booklet sent to all households next month.

There will also be meetings at every secondary school, so that parents, pupils, staff and governors can have their say.

The proposed options include closing some schools and replacing them with new buildings, as well as the refurbishing of others.

But Coun Cunningham stressed that the options for each area were only preliminary ideas, and were not set in stone.

He said: "The options in the booklet may not be the only ones. If you don't agree with them, or you want to suggest another option, tell us.

"There is plenty of time to consider other options. No decisions have been taken yet.

"I urge everyone to tell us their views, either using the response form in the booklet or online at www.stockton.gov.uk, from the middle of next month."

If the Government agrees to the council's proposals, following the various stages of consultation and other criteria, the first new school could open in 2013.