DARWEN'S MP Janet Anderson has thrown her weight behind the town's planned £35million academy.

She spoke out as the National Union of Teachers expressed concern about the involvement of Capita boss Rod Aldridge, who is providing £2million of the cost.

The academy will replace the failing Darwen Moorland High School, providing 1,200 places for 11-16-year-olds and a 400-strong sixth form - the first in the town for years.

Mr Aldridge has stressed that while he will bring his business expertise to helping the school and encouraging entrepreneurship tuition for pupils, the actual running of the academy will be down to the headteacher, managers and staff.

But Simon Jones, a member of the NUT National Executive, said: "It is very worrying to think one man will have so much control, disproportionate to his contribution financially." But Labour MP Mrs Anderson said: "I am delighted that we are going to have a city academy in Darwen.

"I am very grateful to Rod Aldridge for putting his own money into this school for the benefit of pupils in Darwen.

"We are going to have a sixth form in the town for the first time in a long time.

"Mr Aldridge has promised to bring a focus on business and entreprenuership to pupils, something the town and East Lancashire desperately need.

"Mr Aldridge will have no say over the school curriculum in general and the academy will be run in the normal way by the Local Education Authority, the head and the teachers.

"This is long overdue. It replaces the failing Moorland High School and is a very exciting project.

"Darwen has lost its wallpaper industry and we desperately need to develop creativity, business and entrepreneurship in the town.

"As well as providing money, Mr Aldridge will bring precisely those skills to the school and the borough. It is something new and valuable and I welcome his involvement and I welcome the academy."