AN education authority is being criticised for failing to consult the public over the future of a new school.

Freebrough Community College is due to open in September following the amalgamation of three east Cleveland secondary schools - Warsett, in Brotton, De Brus, in Skelton, and Rosecroft, in Loftus, to cut surplus places.

Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council is now considering going for city academy status on a multi-million pound single site, to attract the necessary Government grants to develop the school.

A city academy, which could open by September 2003, would attract grants of between £5m and £16m, and would bring in sponsorship from private businesses.

Council officials say continued population decline in the region would lead eventually to the closure of at least one of the three sites.

Schools Minister Estelle Morris is backing the proposals, and initial consultation with prospective sponsors has taken place.

But East Cleveland Independent councillor Steve Kay said there needed to be public consultation following rumours about the future of education in the borough.

Last week, principal designate, Allison Fraser, released details of radical shifts in the traditional school timetables proposed for the college.

"A lot of gobbledegook is coming out of Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council about this matter, which is doing no service to the people of east Cleveland," said Coun Kay.

"The public is demanding a full explanation of what is going on. It is cards-on-the-table time for our education bosses. Let the people decide now what is best for their children."

Coun Ian Jeffrey, the council's lead member for lifelong learning and leisure, said: "We are hoping to improve the facilities at Freebrough and we were initially led to believe that by taking out the surplus places we would receive funding. That hasn't been forthcoming and it has left us in the position of considering other options."

He said the proposals would be voted on by councillors and, if the city academy option was accepted, then the authority would go back to the public for consultation.

Public consultation is not allowed in the run-up to a General Election, and it is unlikely parents would be asked their views until after May