THREE new Roman Catholic secondary schools are planned for Salford.

As revealed in the M.E.N. yesterday St George's RC High in Walkden could merge with St Ambrose Barlow in Swinton to create a `super school'.

A new school, with a sixth form college, would be built on land off Manchester Road at Wardley on the site of the former Wardley High School. It would accommodate the 1,000-plus pupils from both schools.

It is also proposed that All Hallows High at Weaste should be rebuilt on the site of Hope High which is to close and relocate to Salford Quays. St Patrick's at Eccles would also be rebuilt on its existing site.

Both the council and the Salford Roman Catholic Diocese have agreed to formally assess the feasibility of the idea. It had been planned to close St George's, extend St Patrick's and St Ambrose, and rebuild All Hallows in Langworthy.

The extra costs of building three new schools, instead of one as originally proposed, would be covered by the sale of the redundant school sites. A total of £150m is being spent on improving and building secondary schools in the city.

St Ambrose Barlow has been promised extra government cash to enhance its post-16 provision. This would go to the new single-site option, which would include a sixth-form.

Salford council leader John Merry said: "Our aim has been to find agreement on any proposal. We are now going to investigate how feasible these proposals are.

"We have a once-in-a lifetime opportunity to transform secondary education in the city and we want everybody to share our vision."