COUNCIL bosses have backed plans for eight new secondary schools in Salford - but 'rubber-stamped' the closure of a successful Roman Catholic high.

Education chiefs are bidding for £182m in government cash for a massive building scheme.

As part of the bid, St George's RC High in Walkden would shut in 2012, but every other Catholic secondary will be rebuilt.

The head of St George's, Phil Harte, has described the proposal - approved by the council's ruling cabinet - as 'a sham'. There will now be six weeks' consultation before the plan goes back for a final decision by the council in January.

If approved, the only option left for St George's is an appeal to the School's Adjudicator.

Mr Harte said: "As long as the governing body, parents, and children want me to, I will fight to save this school."

The M.E.N. had already revealed council plans to merge St George's with St Ambrose Barlow RC High in Swinton, with a.new school built on green belt land at Wardley.

But the council has now decided just to relocate St Ambrose to the site and build a sixth form there, insisting that pupils from St George's would be able to attend.

Mr Harte said: "St Ambrose has 750 pupils and St George's has 600. The new school at Wardley would have 1,050 spaces, so the maths do not add up - where are St George's kids supposed to go?"

Teachers at St George's believe the council is hoping some of its pupils will switch schools if it closes, to swell numbers in non-Catholic schools in Walkden and Little Hulton.

A council report says if St George's doesn't close, the rebuilding programme for the Catholic sector would be at risk.

Coun John Warmisham said: "People in the Catholic community recognise they will never have another opportunity to have three new secondary schools. Crucially, the Diocese is in agreement with the plan."

Mr Harte said: "The council are holding the Diocese to ransom."

Even though St George's is fighting closure, the council has already earmarked the site as suitable for up to 85 houses.