THE head of East Cleveland's three-site college has spoken out to reassure parents worried about where their children are being taught.

Diane Edwards, who took over as principal of the controversy-hit Freeborough Community College in June, said younger pupils would attend lessons at their chosen centre.

Her message to concerned parents was: "They are not being bussed around the area."

Mrs Edwards was responding to fears that young children were being taken to a mixture of classrooms in Brotton, Loftus or Skelton for lessons.

Freeborough, formed last year, operates on a three-site basis using the former Warsett, Rosecroft and De Brus secondary schools.

Under the first principal, Alison Fraser, the venture ran into problems over plans to change the pattern of the school week and claims of a lack of consultation. Parents feared this meant children would spend less time in the classroom.

Mrs Fraser resigned last September due to a family crisis.

Mrs Edwards revealed this week that many parents had taken their children out of the college system.

"There are problems with operating on three sites," she said, "and there has been an issue of regaining quality education in the area. Sadly, some parents have voted with their feet and taken their children away because they lost confidence in the school system here."

Mrs Edwards said she had taken remedial action.

When the new school year starts in September, she pledged that children in years seven, eight and nine would be taught at their local centre .

"Some think the children are bussed about a lot. I want to make it clear that the younger children are not moved around. They will be at their chosen site. It is only the older ones who might have to travel in order to create viable study groups."

New principal speaks of the challenge ahead: page 5