COLLEGE principals are concerned about a controversial plan to build a new sixth-form centre.

Councillors will decide next month if the centre, which would encompass Nunthorpe School, Eston Park School and Southbank's Gillbrook Technology College, can go ahead.

The comparatively low number of pupils going into further education in the west of the Redcar and Cleveland borough concerns councillors and it is hoped that the centre, which would be based at a number of sites, will boost numbers.

But the plan has caused concern among principals of existing sixth forms in the area.

Stephen Whitehead, principal of Prior Pursglove College in Guisborough, is not only concerned about the potential drop in pupils to his college, but the effect on borough as a whole.

"Another college will mean fewer pupils at each college in the borough, fewer teachers at each, and therefore fewer subjects available to students," he said. "It is a huge risk to jeopardise a successful sixth form such as ours for a college with no experience of teaching vocational or traditional subjects to post 16-year-olds.

"The centre will not solve the problem of fewer pupils going on to further education in that area.

"We have 144 pupils from Nunthorpe school who are prepared to travel to our college and that doesn't suggest that it's a reluctance to travel."

Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council's education scrutiny committee has voiced no strong objections to the report by the council's director of education on the proposal.

The matter will be voted on by the cabinet on Tuesday and by the full council on November 13.

Member for education, Coun Steve Kay, said: "There are a lot of hurdles before this becomes reality, but the centre would help increase the number of young people, particularly in the Eston area, pursuing their studies beyond 16."