ONCE upon a time there were just two sorts of school – public and maintained.

Now we have several new types including academies, free schools, UTCs and studio schools.

Studio schools are a new state school model for 14 to 19-year-olds, aimed at tackling skills shortages.

They aim to bridge the gap between academic qualifications and industry as they work with local employers.

This is long overdue, especially in East Lancashire where there is a shortage of work-based skills.

Hyndburn is set to become home to the first studio school and there are plans to open two more in Blackburn.

But education bosses fear these new vocational schools will draw pupils away from the Building Schools for the Future establishments, which have cost millions of pounds to create.

And teaching unions have rejected the plans as they fear the new schools will ‘dismantle’ the borough’s education system.

But what cannot be disputed is that kids who do not excel in maintstream education need more choice to give them the necessary skills to find a job.

As long as this scheme is to benefit the pupils, it should be welcomed.

If it is just about political point-scoring, egos or a way to make money, it will be a nightmare.