PLANS to open a new secondary school in a Teesside town have cleared another hurdle.

Proposals for a secondary school at Ingleby Barwick were granted planning permission yesterday at a meeting of Stockton Borough Council's planning committee.

Contracts for the purchase of the land by the council are expected to be exchanged within the next few days.

Councillor Alex Cunningham, Stockton Borough Council's cabinet member for education, leisure and cultural services, said: "Another hurdle has been cleared as we work towards providing a secondary school in Ingleby Barwick."

The Reverend Andrew Martlew, director of education for the Church of England's Diocese of York, which is supporting the plans, said: "This is a very exciting project, but of course there is still a long way to go."

A business case for the school was completed last month, and the proposals for a 600-place Church of England secondary school for 11 to 16 year-olds, at Blair Avenue, were found to be viable.

A bid is due to be submitted under the Government's Private Finance Initiative (PFI) later this month.

Under the proposals, the sports hall and playing fields at the school would be available for community use, as would the library, subject to agreement by the Department of Culture, Media and Sport. The plans include a 210-place primary school on a neighbouring site.

All would be constructed under the Government's PFI, with a partner sought to design, build, finance and operate the school.

The Stockton Schools Organisation Committee will decide whether to implement the proposals next month, with a Treasury decision expected in November.

It was five years ago that parents launched their drive for a secondary school under the banner, Boss (Barwick's Own Secondary School).

Ross Patterson, from Boss, said: "It is great news. It is a major step forward for us.