PLANS to create a trust school in Blackburn have been attacked by teaching union chiefs.

Questions have been raised by the Blackburn with Darwen branch of the National Union of Teachers over the proposed transformation of Blakewater College, Shadsworth Road, in to a trust school.

And the NUT's secretary for the borough said they were even willing to ballot for strike action over the plans.

Trust schools are managed by businesses, voluntary groups and community groups.

They take control of their own buildings and land, directly employ their own staff, and will set and manage their own admissions criteria, while remaining state maintained.

The NUT's criticism comes on the back of a new wave of partnerships between schools, universities, charities and local businesses announced by Children, Schools and Families Secretary Ed Balls.

More than 140 primary, secondary and special schools have applied to join the trust school programme in the last seven months.

These new partnerships come alongside 30 trust schools which opened in September and 170 other schools across England that are already working towards trust status.

Simon Jones, NUT secretary for Blackburn and Darwen, said: "This is a huge mistake. Trust schools are another dangerous gimmick that will damage comprehensive education throu-ghout Blackburn with Darwen.

"This is a disgrace and the council should do the right thing and prevent this. The NUT will fight this proposal with every means possible, up to and including balloting for strike action if necessary."

Under the BSF programme, Blakewater College will close and be replaced with a new East Blackburn Community School, to be opened by 2012.

The council's preferred site is the golf driving range in Blackburn Road.