PARENTS of students are being urged to back plans for a multi-million-pound shake-up of schools in Middlesbrough.

A bid for £75m from the Government's Building Schools for the Future scheme has been launched by the town's council.

If successful, it will spend the money on replacing outdated secondary school buildings, including Hall Garth and Kings Manor, and rebuilding others.

The council, which has prepared a business plan to go before the Government next May, says it wants to offer the best possible facilities to pupils.

The authority's executive member for learning and skills, Councillor Paul Thompson, said: "These plans will establish the pattern for secondary education in Middlesbrough for the next 50 years.

"They are about creating a learning environment which puts schools at the heart of their communities and gives every young person in Middlesbrough the opportunity to fulfil their potential."

The plans also include a building to replace Acklam Grange school as well as a single Roman Catholic school to replace Newlands and St David's schools and St Mary's Sixth Form College.

Extensive improvements would be carried out at Ormesby and Priory Woods special schools.

The plans also propose appointing a business manager for each school, to work alongside the headteacher, to deal with day-to-day administration, including paying bills and organising repairs.

Links with the community will also be at the heart of the schools revamp, with plans for them to move to three or four session days, to encourage greater community use of the buildings.

Terry Redmayne, executive director of children, families and learning, said: "Our investment plans will tackle the problem of failing school rolls and the need to improve standards."

If the bid is successful, the new programme would be completed in 2011.