A ROMAN Catholic 'super school' could be built in Salford - and put an end to a bitter row over closures.

Education and diocesan officials met in private to discuss the idea, which is seen as a solution to the row over plans to close St George's RC High (pictured) in Walkden.

The idea, to be considered by the council's ruling cabinet today, is to merge St George's with St Ambrose Barlow in Swinton - with a new building for more than 1,000 pupils off Manchester Road, Wardley.

The land is the former site of Wardley Grammar School, which became Wardley High, and was finally used as a campus of Salford College, before being demolished.

One source said: "It would be built under the government's Building Schools for the Future programme, with some money from the sale of the St George's site. Pupils would have the best facilities.

"Both St George's and St Ambrose are on restrictive sites and the buildings are old."

It is understood that diocesan leaders warmed to the idea after first dismissing it as a non-starter.

Triggered

The plans to shut St George's have triggered a huge Save Our School campaign, with Worsley MP Barbara Keeley backing pupils, teachers, parents and governors.

Later this month, about 600 pupils intend to march through Walkden in protest at the closure plan - even through the council has said it will charge them £2,500 due to the cost of `traffic management'.

St George's academic performance has improved dramatically in recent years and there is a waiting list of children trying to get a place.

St Ambrose has had an impressive record for more than a decade and is regarded as one of the best schools in the borough.

In its last Ofsted report, it was described as an `outstanding school'.

Another source said: "Less than 50 per cent of pupils at St George's are Roman Catholic. It is hard to justify there being two RC schools in the Swinton and Walkden area."

Under plans for the RC secondary sector in Salford, St Patrick's in Eccles, which has also just received a glowing report from inspectors, will be expanded; and All Hallows at Weaste, which is now getting impressive results after once being threatened with closure, is to be rebuilt in Langworthy.

Education bosses hope the St George's and St Ambrose plan will stop the St George's campaign, but it is likely that head teacher Phil Harte will continue to try to save the school.

Mr Harte believes that it could be modernised or rebuilt on its existing site.