VIEWS are to be sought on proposals to relaunch a school in Hartlepool.

The 900-place voluntary-aided Church of England secondary would be created by closing Henry Smith School - a community 11-16 secondary school - and reopening the King Oswy Drive site next September.

The plans are seen by both the Church of England and the local education authority (LEA) as presenting potentially significant advantages. The authority sees the plan as an integral part of a drive to raise educational standards and promote community regeneration in north Hartlepool.

The church wants to extend its involvement in secondary education.

In a report to Hartlepool Borough Council's education board, Jeremy Fitt, director of education said: "The proposal is intended to play a crucial part in a package of measures to relaunch and revitalise the school and help it develop as a beacon of secondary education provision for the north Hartlepool community.

"The buildings at Henry Smith School are in poor condition, covering a split-site. It is hoped that the proposal would help in tackling those problems"

The school serves an area of considerable social disadvantage. A large part of its admission zone covers wards which are identified as falling within the ten per cent most deprived wards in England.

Mr Fitt said: "Though the school presents a challenge in terms of raising standards, it has not been placed in special measures as a result of Ofsted inspection, nor has it been formally designated a school with serious weaknesses."

But in June a report to Hartlepool Education Board identified the school as causing concern to the LEA.

Among the concerns were inconsistent standards in the number of pupils gaining five or more good GCSEs. There were also serious concerns about geography course work.

Mr Fitt said: "Generally speaking, children attending Church of England schools achieve somewhat better results in national tests and examinations."

The plans will be discussed at a meeting of the council's education and childcare board on Thursday