MEETINGS are to be held tomorrow to discuss the future of three secondary schools earmarked for closure in east Middlesbrough.

As part of Middlesbrough Borough Council's proposal, Keldholme, Langbaurgh and St Anthony's RC School would close and a new school would be built on the Middlebeck campus.

But the proposals have met with opposition from staff, parents and pupils at St Anthony's, who say the closure of their school would bring an end to secondary catholic education in east Middlesbrough.

The meetings are part of a formal two-month consultation by the council before they seek approval for the closure from the Middlesbrough School Organisation Committee.

Parents and guardians of children affected by the proposals are invited, together with members of school governing bodies and community councils. Dr Barbara Comiskey, the council's corporate director of education, will attend the meetings along with Councillor Geoff Connolly, the council's commissioner for education and Susan Goodhall, head of education services.

The meetings, at 6pm at St Anthony's, 7.15pm at Keldholme and 7.15pm at Langbaurgh, are open to the public.

A final decision about the schools is expected at the end of September.