EDUCATION bosses in Stockton have warned that falling pupil numbers mean further schools could be threatened with closure.

The prediction came as the future of a special needs school, in Norton, will be discussed by the borough council's cabinet tomorrow.

Last week, parents and staff were left in tears after the council agreed to close Tedder Primary School, in Thornaby. Meanwhile English Martyrs RC primary and St Peter and St Paul primary schools, both Stockton, are to merge.

The borough's cabinet member for education, Alex Cunningham, last night said more school closures were on the cards due to falling pupil numbers in some areas.

Coun Cunningham said a surplus of school places was wasting large chunks of the council's education budget, and in some cases closure was the best option.

"This isn't just a Stockton problem - it's a regional and national problem. There is a lot of money being wasted in education. We need to get full value from the money spent," he said.

Tomorrow's decision on the fate of Bishopmill School, in Norton, will have an impact on Stockton's three special needs schools.

If the closure goes ahead, the Saltergill school, in Kirklevington, will move to the Bishopsmill site with Saltergill and another special needs school, Westlands, in Thornaby, taking Bishopsmill's pupils.

Although there will be job losses among staff at Bishopsmill if it closes in August, the council hopes to redeploy some staff within the authority. Redundancy and early retirement costs are expected to total more than £300,000.

The council has been consulting with teachers, carers, parents, governors and trade unions from all three schools about the proposed closure.

Governors from Bishopsmill expressed concerns about the plans, saying it could lead to a breakdown in pupil/staff relations, which would have a bad effect on vulnerable youngsters.

They also said that staff felt "betrayed" by Stockton council.

Stephen Smailes, leader of the opposing Conservative party on Stockton council, said last night: "The council needs to explore other avenues before making these draconian decisions. It has to start listening to the people and what they want.