CONSULTATIONS on plans for a town's second city academy will begin today.

The first of a series of meetings for parents, staff and communities on the plan for south Middlesbrough is being held at Coulby Newham Secondary School at 6.30pm.

It will discuss proposals to close Brackenhoe and Coulby Newham schools to make way for a city academy on the Coulby Newham site.

The scheme, strongly backed by councillors, follows approval of a similar plan for east Middlesbrough, where St Anthony's, Langbaurgh and Keldhome Schools will make way for the town's first city academy. It attracted widespread opposition from staff and parents.

But Councillor Geoff Connolly, Middlesbrough Council's education commissioner, said the latest proposal could "make a major contribution to transforming the educational opportunities for many thousands of local children."

The city academy would be sponsored by the Vardy Foundation, which runs Gates-head's Emmanuel College, and would specialise in business, enterprise and technology.

Over six meetings, the council and the Foundation will explain the proposals and listen to people's views.

After that, the education cabinet will discuss the matter in November, before carrying out formal consultations for the following two months. A final decision will be taken by the Secretary of State for Education and Skills next spring.

l Meetings follow at Beverley School, at 4pm on October 2; Brackenhoe School, at 6pm on October 2; Viewley Hill Primary School, at 6.30pm on October 8; Breckon Hill Primary School, at 6pm on October 9 and Marton Manor Primary School, at 6pm on October 11.