A CONTROVERSIAL merger of two popular Darlington schools has gone smoothly - according to the headteacher.

Pupils have completed the first term at Whinfield Primary School, formed when Whinfield Junior and Whinfield Infant schools closed last summer.

The decision to merge the schools into Whinfield Primary School, making it the biggest primary school in the Darlington area, was fraught with controversy.

Many parents, governors and staff were worried the 630-pupil school would be too big and would harm the education of pupils - especially as both the schools were successful and popular.

In May, the amalgamation was unanimously voted through by Darlington Borough Council, which has a policy of merging infant and junior schools into primaries.

At the end of the first term, headteacher Sheila Williams said: "We have had more Christmas parties and concerts than any other school in the town, it has been a very busy term, it has been wonderful.

"It was no secret that a lot of people had their doubts, but there is a huge amount of good will and everyone can see it is going to be a very good school."

Mrs Williams, who is married to council leader John Williams, brought a team of 40 staff together and opened the doors, which had literally separated the two 25-year-old schools from one another.

She said it was now easier to share information and there was more expertise to call upon, which would improve education in the long term.

"The biggest issue for us is we still have two separate staff rooms and offices, and both the staff rooms are too small," she said.

The school is hoping to secure funding next year, which will allow them to alter the front of the school and bring the offices and staff rooms together.

A new governing body was set up two weeks before the end of term.