NEW schools for New Addington and the north of the borough head the latest reorganisation plans for secondary education in Croydon.

The proposals, along with fresh plans for primary and special needs education, were due to go before the council's cabinet on Monday.

But after the Government announced this week it was scrapping plans to fund the building of hundreds of new schools, the strategies have been pulled from the agenda at the last minute.

Tim Pollard, the council's cabinet member for children, young people and learners, says the council is still committed to the proposed changes.

But it has been decided to hold fire until there is a clearer idea about future funding possibilities.

The secondary school proposals envisage a new four form entry secondary school on the site of Bensham Manor special school in Thornton Heath, which the council is considering relocating.

The idea is for the school to fit into the Government-backed "free school" concept, which would see it run by a partnership of parents, teachers or charities, out of council control.

If the principle is eventually approved the authority will, said Councillor Pollard, start the search for groups interested in bidding to run the school.

The same "free" school principle applies to the new plans for the future of Addington High, which the council is suggesting could be reduced in size and rebuilt on a new site close to the Fisher's Farm recycling centre in North Downs Crescent, New Addington.

The intention is to include community, leisure and library facilities as part of the overall development.

The council's belief is that building a new school closer to the heart of the estate will make it more accessible for parents living in New Addington and could attract more pupils from outside the borough.

Addington High head teacher Tim Davies has welcomed the scheme in principle, although he favours a larger school than the one proposed.

He said: "The school would be in a central location and could, if the leisure facilities are included, become an even more important part of the community."

The council's Labour opposition is, however, doubtful a "free" school is a starter and wants assurances that if the idea falls flat, failure will not be used as an excuse for closing the existing school.

Other changes contained in the latest plans include looking to turn Westwood High School for Girls into a mixed school as a further way of addressing the shortage of places in the north of the borough, particularly for boys.

And there is bad news for Archbishop Tenison's, which will no longer be moving to a new site off Coombe Road, Croydon.

The aim is still to rebuild the school but on its existing site.

The council has said it now also wants to look at completely rebuilding St Mary's High and St Andrew's High School, rather than carry out expensive piecemeal rebuilding.

Thomas More School in Purley could also be rebuilt in the future.