AN EMINENT East Lancs academic has blasted plans to create three super schools which he fears could be a "recipe for worsening education."

As part of Blackburn with Darwen Council's £150million plan to "improve standards and integration", Pleckgate High School Mathematics and Computing College, Witton Park High School Specialist Business and Enterprise College and Blakewater College will be rebuilt as super schools'.

They will cater for 1,350, 1,200 and 900 pupils respectively and could open as early as 2011.

The plans come as schools in Burnley and Pendle are transformed as part of the BSF programme with 11 schools becoming eight new super schools'.

One school has already received criticism from parents and councillors over problems with bad behaviour at Hameldon Community College after its first term.

However, Headteacher Gill Bloom insisted she was pleased with the start made.

Dr Eric Wharton, 63, organises House of Commons events for science researchers to present research to MPs.

He attended Blackburn Technical and Grammar School and was later awarded an Honorary Doctor of Science Degree by Sheffield University.

Dr Wharton, the director of SET for Britain which promotes and supports early-stage science research attacked the plan, likening large schools to "manufacturing production lines".

He said: "I am not clear of all the grounds for closure, but it seems one aspect seemed to be a desire to have much larger schools and this policy by no means would ensure better education - indeed, it might be a recipe for worsening education."

And Dr Wharton, one of the pioneers behind National Science Week added: "Modernisation is necessary in many places and should involve not only national but also local and civic resources and involvement.

"But there is something to be said for small, dedicated and well-motivated schools serving communities rather than creating vast amorphous depersonalised conglomerations more akin to manufacturing production lines.

"Small schools can provide far more focused education directly suited to the needs, skills and abilities of individual pupils and students and therefore prepare them better for life and work."

Dr Wharton's comments follow concerns expressed by Beardwood headteacher Ruby Hussain who said: "I am not convinced about large schools as they tend to have pupil numbers of 1,500 and are not always in best interests of pupils."

However Peter Morgan, Blackburn with Darwen Council's director of children's services dismissed the concerns and said: "Our ambitious BSF programme sets out our clear aspirations to personalise and improve learning outcomes for young people through the refurbishment and rebuilding of our medium sized secondary school provision."

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