BACKERS of a planned super school have moved to reassure parents who say they are concerned about "brainwashing".

The Vardy Foundation, which believes in children learning "lessons for life through the bible" is putting £2m into a new city academy planned in south Middlesbrough, set to open in September 2003.

The academy will replace Brakenhoe and Coulby Newham Schools and is a partnership between the foundation and Middlesbrough Council.

But a group of concerned parents is concerned that the foundation does not influence lessons in religion and science at the new school.

Their concern follows the controversy surrounding Gateshead's Emmanuel College, which is also backed by the foundation, where it was claimed creationism - the literal belief that God created the world in seven days - was being taught at the expense of evolution.

The parents have now set up an action group with its own website - accessible via www.coulbynet.co.uk

The website accuses John Burn, the foundation's chief academic advisor, of not being open with parents, an accusation he denies.

But he said: "It is quite misleading to suggest that the Middlesbrough academy will operate in the same way as the Emmanuel College at Gateshead. It is an entirely different category of school established under different legislation."

Emmanuel College, a City Technology College, was established under the Conservatives and has more independence than the new city academies.

Mr Burn added: "We have always been quite open in stating that the academy will have a Christian ethos, but we have also made crystal clear that in terms of every aspect of the academic syllabus we will fully comply with the requirements of the national curriculum."

Barbara Comiskey, (COR) Middlesbrough's education director, said: "We had two public meetings about the city academy last week and there was generally a very positive response from parents."

But one parent member of the action group said: "We have been misled and let down by the local education authority. We don't like this evangelism, we don't want our kids brain washed."

Yesterday it emerged that education watchdog Ofsted will not intervene in the Emmanuel College row.

It had asked for assurances about the college's approach to science teaching. Now, in a letter to chairman of governors and Vardy Foundation founder Sir Peter Vardy, Ofsted said it was satisfied with the school's response and would not be taking the matter any further.