A £1M boost for schools across Darlington has been announced by the Department for Education and Skills.

The funding is part of the Government's Excellence in Clusters programme and officials are hoping it will have a major impact on pupils' performance.

The money has been allocated to Darlington Borough Council and will be used during the next financial year.

The authority is planning to consult schools to decide how best to use the funding.

The Excellence in Clusters programme was set up with the aim of funding the provision of more support for pupils who face educational challenges.

Initiatives could include establishing a mentor system to provide extra support for pupils with special educational needs or providing more investment in information technology.

Stephen Harker, the council's cabinet member for education, said: "The Excellence in Clusters programme funding is a welcome boost for Darlington schools.

"It will enable schools to be more flexible and look at innovative ways of approaching learning, benefiting pupils of all abilities and needs."