TWO Newport schools described as "well past their sell by dates" may have to be replaced, concerned councillors are warning.

The council will survey buildings at Bettws High and Duffryn High to decide whether to rev-amp or even replace the schools.

Councillor Bob Poole, cabinet member for young people's services, said: "Duffryn and Bettws are well past their sell by dates and need to be looked at again."

David Griffiths, chief education officer, said both schools suffer a "heavy loss" of pupils who live in the catchment but choose schools further away.

Mr Griffiths said of Bettws Comprehensive: "Councillors are very concerned regarding the condition of the building. Radical improvement of the accommodation and structural condition should be sought."

And he said there was similar concern about the site of Duffryn High, adding that continuing to educate children there without improving the site was "undesirable."

The council's cabinet decided to look at both schools with a view to either refurbishing them extensively or building new schools.

Councillor Bill Langsford, chair of governors at Bettws Comprehensive, said: "I'm very pleased the council want to look at this.

"Part of the survey has already been done. We think the building has problems of subsidence.

"We could go on for a while longer but there will come a stage when the structural engineers say 'enough is enough'."

The decision was a part of a string of proposals to shake up education in the city.

The council announced plans which are now subject to consultation to close four schools in Bettws and Malpas. But they agreed to pinpoint a site in Pill for a new primary as the existing school is full.

And they plan to keep a close eye on pupil numbers at Hartridge and Liswerry High Schools. Regeneration plans for housing developments at Llanwern and Corporation Road could bring many new pupils into the two high schools.