COLLEGE principals are concerned at a controversial plan to build a new sixth form centre on Teesside.

Councillors will decide next month whether the centre, which would take in Nunthorpe School, Eston Park School and Southbank's Gillbrook Technology College, can go ahead.

It is hoped the centre, which would be based at a number of sites, will boost the number of pupils going into further education in the west of Redcar and Cleveland borough.

But the plan has caused concern among principals of existing sixth form centres in the area.

Stephen Whitehead, principal of Prior Pursglove College, in Guisborough, is not only concerned about the potential severe drop in pupils to his college, but the effect on the whole borough.

"Another college will mean fewer pupils at each college in the borough, fewer teachers at each, and therefore fewer subjects available to students," he said.

"It is a huge risk to jeopardise a successful sixth form such as ours for a college with no experience of teaching vocational or traditional subjects to post 16-year-olds.

"The centre will not solve the problem of fewer pupils going on to further education in that area.

"We have 144 pupils from Nunthorpe School who are prepared to travel to our college and that doesn't suggest that it is a reluctance to travel."

Don Lillistone, principal of St Mary's RC Sixth Form College, in Middlesbrough, believes there is already extensive and successful post-16 provision in the area.

"The proposal might lead to less rather than more choice for young people because of the resultant ineffective use of public monies," he said.

Last night, Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council's education scrutiny committee voiced no strong objections to the report by the council's director of education on the proposal.

The matter will be voted on by the cabinet on November 4 and by the full council on November 13.

Cabinet member for education Steve Kay, said: "There are a lot of hurdles before this becomes reality, but the centre would help increase the number of young people, particularly in the Eston area, pursuing their studies beyond 16."