WORK to build a pioneering £34.9m education village has got under way.

The scheme will see three existing schools, a primary, secondary and special school, brought together on one site in modern facilities.

The new campus is being built on the site of Haughton Community School, in Darlington, and will be the first of its kind to be developed under the Private Finance Initiative.

The development will see Haughton school, Beaumont Hill Special School and Springfield Primary based on the site, as well as a nursery for three and four-year-olds and an early years centre.

When the complex is built on Haughton Community School's playing fields, pupils will be transferred and the existing school will be demolished and the site redeveloped to create new playing fields.

When the village opens in September next year, each school will retain its own name, identity and headteacher.

The Kajima Corporation, an international property and construction company, is building the school. It will also run some services, including maintenance, when it is completed - although Darlington Borough Council will continue to have overall control.

Stephen Harker, the council's cabinet member for education, said the inclusive design of the education village with modern furniture and fittings would help children fulfil their potential.

He said that by working with social services, the health authority and higher education partners, the education village would offer a comprehensive service for pupils in one central location, and would be ideally located to encourage family learning on the site.

An official ceremony is expected to be held to mark the beginning of work on the site in the next few weeks.