THE planned £150million shake up of secondary education in Blackburn with Darwen has been given the go ahead by the government.

The major revamp, part of the national Building Schools for the Future initiative which has already brought major changes in Burnley and Pendle, will create three new super-schools in the borough as early as 2011.

The go-ahead is confirmation of the green light for the local plan, which was first revealed in the Telegraph in October.

Four schools will close as part of the plan and faith schools will be urged to broaden their intakes to tackle segregation and social equality and create multi-faith schools.

The funding approval by the Department for Education and Skills means that Blackburn with Darwen will be in Wave 4 of the BSF programme, which will enable work to start on the project as early as next month.

The council said it would now be undertaking a 12-month consultation period with schools at the centre of the shake up to establish the best way of implementing the plans.

The programme could see Pleckgate High School Mathematics and Computing College and Witton Park High School Specialist Business and Enterprise College replaced with £25million super schools' while Blakewater College will become a new East Lancashire Community School, either rebuilt on current site or at two other undisclosed council-owned sites.

Beardwood High School will close under the plans and its pupils will be relocated to Pleckgate or Witton schools or the new East Lancashire Community School.

Crosshill Special School will be closed by 2011 and converted into a centre for pupils with behavioural problems while part of Darwen Vale High School is set to be rebuilt in a £15million revamp.

Education chiefs in the borough have welcomed the approval and said it will bring a once in a lifetime opportunity to revamp the education system in the borough.

Coun Maureen Bateson, executive member for children's services, said: "Building Schools for the Future is the biggest ever investment opportunity this borough has seen.

"It is a unique chance to create learning opportunities which inspire, motivate, encourage and support our young people.

"Our young people deserve the best and we'll make sure this investment gives them just that."

Blackburn with Darwen Council leader Coun Kate Hollern, said the funding would enable the them to place schools at the heart of the community.

Robin Campbell head-teacher, Pleckgate High School and chair of the secondary leadership forum, said: "This is the greatest investment in secondary education I have personally ever seen.

"It offers us a unique opportunity to produce high quality education provision in state of the art buildings for future generations."