PARENTS in east Cleveland have shown overwhelming support for a new £15m City Academy.

In the summer, parents of youngsters at Freebrough Community College, an amalgamation of the area's three secondary schools - Warsett, in Brotton, Rosecroft, in Loftus and de Brus, Skelton - attended meetings to hear proposals for the academy.

The school would attempt to buck a declining population, which has led to surplus places at all three sites, and develop technology skills among pupils and the community.

Yesterday, members of Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council's executive heard that, out of 304 people who submitted written responses after the meetings, 77 per cent were in favour of creating a single-site City Academy.

In a report to the executive, George McQueen, acting director of education, said: "The consultation exercise demonstrates that investment in the educational infrastructure in east Cleveland, through the formation of a City Academy, would be welcomed.

"The creation of a City Academy in east Cleveland is the most likely route by which investment in education can be attracted to the area. Such investment would provide improved facilities likely to result in raised standards."