PUPILS are playing a leading role in the development of a new high school in Radcliffe with the launch of their school council.

Youngsters from Coney Green Technology College and Radcliffe High School met to form a school council which will help make decisions on behalf of the pupils.

One of the first jobs was to shortlist names for the school which was given the green light in February by the Department of Education and Skills.

The Government pledged £5 million towards the cost and Bury Council plans to raise the rest of the money through the sale of the two existing high school sites in Abden Street and Spring Lane, and from other funding sources.

The former East Lancs Paper Mill in Radcliffe has been earmarked to become the site for a £15 million high school.

And now 24 pupils from each school have been asked to take part in the council which will play a role in the new development by coming up with a name, logo and badge. The aim of the project is to bring the pupils from the two sites together before the final merger when the new school opens.

The final decision for the school's new name is to be decided by governors, who have been given a list of suggestions from current and former pupils.

At the launch of the group last week the pupils gathered at Radcliffe High School with teachers and the executive head, Diana Morton, who spoke to them about the work of the council.

The two schools have been partially operating together since last April.

The Government's backing now allows the council to start work on putting the other funding elements in place and to look at designing and planning the new school.

It is hoped the building will available for use at the start of the 2006/07 academic year.

A merger of the schools was agreed by Bury Council's Executive last autumn after widespread consultation, and the merger will take place in September.