A NEW era for education in Redcar and east Cleveland will dawn on Monday when 600 children arrive for lessons at two new primary schools.

South Bank Community Primary School and St Benedict's RC Primary School, at Redcar, are the first in a £155m five-school project to be completed under a private finance initiative (PFI) contract.

Councillor Steve Kay, Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council's cabinet member for education, said: "Monday will be a great day for the education community of Redcar and Cleveland, especially for the children.

"The opening of these two schools marks the beginning of a new era, as far as the provision of schools fit for the modern day is concerned."

He added: "Over the next few years, we plan to build new schools throughout the borough - these two schools are the first of many.

"Modern facilities will maximise the opportunities for our children to succeed educationally in pleasant and stimulating environments."

At South Bank, 315 children, plus 39 nursery youngsters, will be greeted by a giant ceramic mural in the school's entrance hall.

The artwork is the result of artist-in-residence Kerry Paige's work with every child from the now-amalgamated Cromwell Road and Beech Grove schools.

Headteacher Brenda Urwin said: "It's a wonderful piece of work."

She added: "We've had a very hectic Easter holiday, unpacking almost 1,000 cases, but the school is lovely - absolutely fabulous."

St Benedict's is a school for 352 children and another 39 nursery youngster.

It is replacing neighbouring St Albans and St Dominic's schools on a site in Mersey Road, Redcar.

Headteacher Caroline Garvey said: "We're absolutely delighted with how things have gone. Everybody is thrilled to bits with the spaciousness and the amount of natural light we've got. Now we're all looking forward to welcoming the children."

Both schools are planning formal openings - South Bank's is set for Friday, June 30, while St Benedict's will probably wait until the autumn.

The PFI contract covers the construction of secondary schools at Bydales, Marske and Gillbrook, at South Bank, while the council is already building the Freebrough Specialist Engineering College at nearby Brotton