PLANS to amalgamate a junior and an infant school could be approved next week, despite objections from governors.

Darlington Borough Council's cabinet will consider the plans to amalgamate Whinfield Infant and Junior schools on Tuesday.

However, despite support for the proposals from the infant school's governing body, governors at the junior school are objecting to the proposals.

They feel that the combined school, with the potential to take 630 pupils, would be too big and there would be no educational benefits.

Governors also feel that the school building, although shared by both schools, cannot be adapted without considerable cost.

In addition, staff at the school who have specialised in one phase of learning cannot see any advantages in working across two key stages of the national curriculum.

A vacancy for the post of headteacher at Whinfield Junior School has brought about the council's proposals to amalgamate the two schools under its School Organisation Plan.

The plan states that primary schools should provide continuity within the curriculum and for pupils, who otherwise would have to come to terms with new staff, school ethos and environment if they changed schools.

It also states that it is easier to track pupils' progress over a longer period and it is easier and more convenient for parents to deal with only one school, if they have more than one child of primary school age.

The two schools share a building, caretaker, catering arrangements and playing field.

If the cabinet decides to amalgamate the schools, there must be a six-week consultation period when people can put forward their comments or objections.