THE first steps in the biggest rejuvenation Blackburn and Darwen's high schools for 130 years could take place in the autumn, an education boss today revealed.

Assistant director for education and lifelong learning Cath Hitchen said a bid for £150million of government cash would, if successful, result in schools built in Victorian times being reduced to rubble and replaced by state-of-the art learning centres.

And Mrs Hitchen also revealed that Darwen would have two new schools, with Darwen Vale likely to be re-built and Darwen Moorland moved to the centre of the town as a new academy.

Blackburn with Darwen Council expects to hear in May or June whether its bid to the government's 'Building Schools for the Future' initiative has been approved.

All nine of Blackburn and Darwen's secondary schools will be improved if the money is approved -- with the newer schools not being left out and having refurbishments and re-fittings where needed.

The plan could mean a high school being re-built in its present position but Mrs Hitchen said that schools will be re-built in other locations if it is deemed more suitable.

Mrs Hitchen confirmed that, if successful, the bid would mean money being provided in 2006 -- not 2005, as the council stated yesterday.

And news of the plan comes as proposals for a Darwen academy were also unveiled.

The town centre academy will offer vocational and academic courses for pupils aged 11-19 in Darwen for the first time in a bid to raise standards.

It is to be part-funded by a £2million charitable gift from businessman Rod Aldridge, executive chairman of Capita.

Mrs Hitchen said: "I think if you look at school buildings now they haven't changed fundamentally since schools first became compulsory in 1870.

"What we have seen is a major change in equipment and technology but the buildings have have just stayed as very straight forward squares with the teacher standing at the front of the class."

Mrs Hitchen said that the current location of schools in relation to the population they serve would dictate whether a school will be re-built.

She said that the new schools would be geared towards being used by the whole community after school hours, making the technology available for all ages.

She said: "What people are starting to recognise is that schools are the hub of the community. We are expanding education way beyond the age of 19 and into the community."