EDUCATION bosses today confirmed Moorland High School will be replaced if a proposed City Academy gets the go-ahead.

And the headteacher at the Darwen special measures school said his sights were firmly set on the top job at the new academy.

The decision to create Lancashire's £20million flagship school now rests with Whitehall but Moorland, which is expected to be taken off Ofsted's critical list next autumn, could be replaced as early as 2007.

The Holden Fold site would close and pupils would switch to the new school. And Redearth Street - where 150 homes will be demolished as part of the Elevate housing renewal programme - has already been earmarked as first choice for the new school by Blackburn with Darwen Council chief executive, Phil Watson.

The Government wants to create 200 academies by 2014 to raise educational standards in disadvantaged areas. So far, private sponsors have been invited to apply for a share in their running and, in Darwen, businessman Rod Aldridge, executive chairman of Capita, is part-funding the project with a charitable gift.

Moorland head Gareth Dawkins said: "Of course I want the job, who wouldn't? To be the head of a flagship school with state-of-the-art facilities would be unbelievable.

"It is a very exciting prospect. But the notion that the school could re-locate causes anxiety."

Plans for the academy were first unveiled in February, with a view to providing vocational and academic courses for pupils aged 11 to 19 in Darwen for the first time.

The council then submitted an application to the Department for Education and Skills and initial approval is expected at the end of October, which will pave the way for a feasibility study.

After that, the academy could be given the final go-ahead in autumn 2005, to open around 2007.

Coun Dave Hollings, executive member for education, said: "Moorland will be replaced by the City Academy if we get the go ahead. The site Moorland occupies is not ideal. The school was built in the 60s as a secondary modern with far fewer pupils and has been developed ad hoc since then.

"If we can have a 21st Century school for Darwen, then that is what we want. The next decision is out of our hands but we are confident."

The town's other secondary school is Darwen Vale, Blackburn Road, which is one of the area's oldest and has been ear-marked for investment under the Building Schools for the Future bid. A response on the borough's BSF bid is also expected at the end of October.