CALLS for another secondary school to accommodate children from Europe's largest housing estate have received backing.

Ingleby Barwick Parish Council has registered its concerns with Stockton Borough Council about the number of children bused bus out of the area.

Despite the estate growing, the 600-place All Saints' is the only secondary school in Ingleby Barwick.

More than 90 per cent of parents from the estate have told ward councillors that they want their youngsters educated in their own community.

Figures issued by Stockton council project that by 2013, about 800 children would be travelling out of the area for secondary education.

But Councillor David Harrington, spokesman for Ingleby Barwick Independent Society (Ibis), said this is unsatisfactory.

"To have the backing of the parish council is excellent news for us. We want the borough council to realise there is a huge demand for another secondary and the issue needs addressing.

"We fought for All Saints' and we'll fight again. We are acting on behalf of the parents and children we represent."

More than 600 children are being transported by the council to schools outside the area, because there are not enough places at All Saints'.

In a letter to the borough council, Paul Hall, clerk to the parish council, wrote: "We would like to register our concerns about the whole issue of children travelling out of Ingleby Barwick to secondary schools in the surrounding area, as the situation is totally unacceptable.

"Ingleby Barwick, which is the largest private housing development in Europe, should be able to accommodate all of the children wishing to attend within its own secondary school. The parish council feels that the best way forward in resolving the situation is to either increase the size of the existing secondary school, All Saints', or provide another school in Ingleby Barwick."

Alex Cunningham, Stockton council's cabinet member for children and young people, said: "Because there are sufficient places at existing and very good schools in the area for the foreseeable future, the Government will not fund either another secondary school in Ingleby Barwick, or the expansion of All Saints' School.

"There are thousands of children across the borough, and many tens of thousands across the region, who travel to school by bus every day. We are reviewing school transport, not just in Ingleby Barwick but across the borough.