PARENTS have backed a plan to turn a "dull, run-down and uninviting" school into a voluntary-aided church school.

Hartlepool Borough Council's proposals to change the status of the town's Henry Smith School have been welcomed by parents after extensive consultation.

Under the plans, the school in King Oswy Drive would close, and a Church of England school would open on the same site next September. Although few parents turned up to meetings held to discuss the plans, the council saw this as an acceptance of its proposals.

Nick Flight, assistant director of education, said: "The low turn-out can perhaps be interpreted positively.

"People would have been more likely to attend had they been against the proposal."

In letters to the council, many parents of Henry Smith pupils have welcomed the changes, as have those with youngsters moving up to secondary education in the next couple of years.

One said: "I had heard more than a few negative comments about the school, and I have to say just the appearance of the school looks dull, run-down and uninviting.

"My children are at present only eight and four, so this issue has not been uppermost in my mind.

"But in time, I would have considered moving to a different catchment area. However, these proposals sound very positive and encouraging, and I feel they would be of great benefit to the school and the area as a whole."

Other parents called for stricter uniform rules, better facilities and better teaching at the new school. The council has suggested that the Church would be in a position to get more funding for improvements.

The council has expressed its wish that parents in the Henry Smith admission zone will still be able to send their children to the new school.

It has been stressed that there will be no requirement for pupils to attend church to gain a place.

However, the new school will welcome some pupils from outside the catchment area, whose parents want a church-based education.

Parents opposed to the idea of a church school will be able to express a preference for another school.

Statutory notices concerning the change have been sent out, and it is hoped the school organisation committee will determine the proposal in March