PUPILS are set to benefit from £150m to improve East Cleveland schools.

The money will fund schemes across the borough, including the building of a voluntary aided school for Sacred Heart RC School, Redcar, and two community schools for Bydales, Marske, and Gillbrook Technology College, South Bank.

Two new primary schools will also be built following the approval for the amalgamation of St Alban's with St Dominic's, in Redcar, and Beech Grove with Cromwell Road, at South Bank.

Nunthorpe Secondary School, at Nunthorpe, will be extensively refurbished and remodelled.

Work is expected to start next January and be completed in September 2006.

The schemes are being supported by £48.9m from Private Finance Initiative Credits through Government funding, and the rest through the public-private partnership.

Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council announced on Tuesday that the preferred bidder for the design, build, finance and future management, of the schools is The Mowlem Robertson Schools Consortium.

Coun Steve Kay, cabinet member for education, said: "This is a giant step forward for education in Redcar and Cleveland, providing a massive investment in new schools, and refurbishment of Nunthorpe Secondary School.

"Dilapidated buildings will be replaced by modern structures and facilities designed for youngsters of the twenty-first century.

"Tribute must be paid to local authority staff in our education department, the schools themselves, and the bidders. This development is the culmination of many months of effort and hard work."

Tony Jackson, bid manager for Leeds-based Mowlem Plc, said the consortium was delighted to have been chosen as preferred bidder for such a high profile project.

He said: "We are now looking forward to continuing to work with the council officers in order to conclude the deal and enable work to start on the construction of the schools in January, 2005, so they can be ready for occupation from September, 2006."

Labour opposition leader George Dunning welcomed the investment. He said: "£150m for education is excellent news for the borough and should be welcomed.

"It is a sign that Prime Minister Tony Blair is carrying out his commitment to 'education, education, education'.