A SCHOOL praised by Government inspectors for turning itself around is fighting back against plans for its closure.

Chief Inspector of Schools Chris Woodhead was so impressed with Langbaurgh School's improvement he invited headteacher Ron Newitt to address a national conference.

The school has gone from only 46 per cent of students taking exams to 96 per cent of the school's pupils getting at least one A to G grade in GCSEs. This year, 16 per cent of pupils gained five A to C grades.

Middlesbrough Borough Council wants to close Langbaurgh, and neighbouring Keldholme and St Anthony's Roman Catholic school, and replace them with a city academy, focusing on information technology.

But Langbaurgh is fighting back.

A petition has been launched to save the school and has so far gathered 600 signatures. The school has also opened an art gallery in the last few weeks.

Mr Newitt said: "Whatever happens we will carry on. If we have to walk out of this place in August or September 2001, we won't have let our children down. We are utterly and totally professional.

"We are giving kids in this area what they did not have before."

Middlesbrough council insisted it had been clear and open in its consultations from the outset.

"We are proposing this to address serious long-standing and continuing problems of under-achievement at the schools," said a spokesman yesterday.

"It is an opportunity for a fresh start for education in east Middlesbrough.

"While we were going through this process, the Government introduced the concept of city academies. Next week's education cabinet meeting will be asked to approve a proposal in which we will seek to negotiate for city academy status for the new school.