PROTESTS over the closure of three schools could result in industrial action by teachers.

A pioneering city academy will replace the east Middlesbrough comprehensives of Keldholme and Langbaurgh.

While the employment rights and conditions of service of staff in those schools is guaranteed, the same protection cannot be extended to teachers at the adjacent St Anthony's Roman Catholic Secondary School, whose diocesan bosses want no part of the new academy - despite the fact the school will close with the others.

Hans Ruyssenaars of the National Association of Schoolmasters/Union of Women Teachers, (Nasuwt) said: "The staff are in a very precarious situation."

About 150 extra places are to be provided for children who normally attend St Anthony's, at another Roman Catholic School, St David's, elsewhere in Middlesbrough, but that will mean jobs for only seven teachers, with as many as 30 teachers facing losing their jobs.

Mr Ruyssenaars said: "We are trying to negotiate some deal with the LEA, and telling them that we know you are not the direct employers, but we do feel you have a responsibility here."

A spokesman for Middlesbrough Borough Council said: "We are currently in discussions with the diocese about the future of Roman Catholic education provision in east Middlesbrough. The outcome of that decision will be known quite shortly.

"If, as a result of that decision any staff were displaced, we would give every single member of staff the kind of support and help which they would expect and which the LEA has an excellent record in providing.

"But what we have got to stress is that we are not the employers in this school."

The union wants the council to invoke what is known as a "bumping" policy where teachers looking for jobs are put into posts vacated by other teachers taking early retirement.

Mr Ruyssenaars said: "If at the end of the day we are faced with massive redundancies Nasuwt will respond in the only way it can - we will consider industrial action.''

Albert Burton, 80, a campaigner for St Anthony's, said the teachers had been loyal to the school and pupils and were now being thrown into "the gutter".