ASSURANCES have been sought about the future of Hurworth School Maths and Computing College.

Revelations this week that education officials are in talks with the Church of England over a £20m proposal to rebuild Eastbourne Comprehensive, has sparked further fears over the future of Hurworth - formerly known as Hurworth comprehensive school.

Last year, many people believed the federation between top-performing Hurworth and struggling Eastbourne would leave the village without a school.

Darlington Council is in the middle of a review of secondary schools because of a dramatic rise in surplus places owing to the falling birth rate. Options include close one, or even two, of the town's secondary schools.

Darlington borough councillor Peter Foster, who represents Hurworth, said: "I thought Hurworth School was safe when it joined the federation.

"The review is going to cause a lot of worry for families and for people who are looking to buy homes in the village. However, Hurworth is resilient and we will fight."

Coun Foster, who used to be a governor at Hurworth, added that he would be horrified if the council looked at land value in the review criteria.

"The most important thing is children's education not land or money," he said.

Fellow borough councillor for Hurworth, Roderick Burtt, was also seeking assurances about Hurworth's future.

He said: "I fear for Hurworth School and the village. All of these uncertainties are having a demoralising effect on Darlington schools.

"A lot of people care about what is going to happen and are getting anxious. Even if the news is bad, at least people will know and can deal with it."

Under the new Private Funding Initiative, Haughton Community School is the least likely to close, and Carmel RC Technology School and Eastbourne as voluntary aided schools could be protected.

Eamonn Farrar, chief executive of the Eastbourne and Hurworth federation, said: "Hurworth has established itself as a provider of top class education and the recent Ofsted inspection has demonstrated that it continues to move forward.

"No one school has been given any assurances. Hurworth doesn't feel it is under threat but we would put up a fight if necessary."

Dean Judson, headteacher of Hurworth, added that he felt the school was in a strong position - ranked number one in Darlington.

"Obviously it's an emotive issue because there are going to be too many schools for the number of children in forthcoming years," he said.

"We feel the results of the Ofsted report and the reputation of the school puts us at the forefront and we are going into consultation with the strongest hand."

l Eastbourne plan: page 3.

* Spectator's Notes: page 20.