A PRIVATE school has announced an £18m scheme to relocate to an exclusive housing estate.

The governors of Red House School have signed a deal with Sir John Hall to create a purpose-built 22-acre site on the Wynyard Estate, near Stockton.

The school was ranked the top co-educational school from the entire database of Britain's schools in the Sunday Times Parent Power league tables for independent secondary schools with no/small sixth form.

Following the agreement to purchase the new site with land owner Cameron Hall Developments, the school plans to create a new sixth form, as well as expand existing pupil numbers.

Chairman of the governors Vinay Bedi said: "This is a hugely exciting moment in the history of the school.

"We will continue to maintain its tremendous academic and sporting record, complemented by state-of-the-art facilities.

"We believe that this facility and location will be the standard bearer of independent education in Teesside for many years to come and we already have strong indications of the levels of demand we can expect from prospective parents."

Having outgrown its existing site at Norton Green, in Stockton, the school's governors believe its new location, just off the A19, will ensure it remains popular with parents.

Headmaster Alex Taylor said: "It has been my long held belief that we should provide a complete and rounded education for our pupils, from nursery through to, and including, sixth form.

"These facilities will enable us to do that and I am particularly excited that we will now be able to offer a top-class sixth form in order to continue the school's already excellent academic record."

It is planned that the school will open on the Wynyard Estate by September 2013.

Sir John said: "Working with Red House to facilitate the development of a state-of the-art educational facility on land at Wynyard is wonderful news for the people of Teesside and for the region as a whole.

"The provision of a flagship independent school with first class academic and sporting facilities will be a huge boost for the area and Wynyard Estate."

Planning permission for the scheme will be required from Stockton Borough Council.