A MULTI-million pound scheme to improve education in for Newton school pupils has moved a step closer.

St Helens Council's executive committee has approved the submission of detailed proposals to the Department of Children, Schools and Families, which should transform teaching and learning in schools.

The Government's Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme has allocated more than £150million to transform the borough's high schools - the highest investment programme to be managed by the council to date.

Plans to build the proposed Newton Academy that will replace St Aelred's Catholic Technology College and Newton High are on the cards.

Proposals also include a £5million project to re-build Penkford Technology school for 55 young people, a £5 million purpose built facility at Mill Green Learning Campus for 45 young people aged between 14 and 19 with complex needs.

It is hoped that the by 2015 work on all the schools will have been completed.

For a detailed breakdown of the plans visit sthelens.gov.uk