A SWEEPING review of every secondary school in Darlington is to be carried out to tackle the falling number of pupils and decrepit state of buildings.

Darlington Borough Council estimates that by 2014 there will be a 22 per cent drop in the number of secondary school pupils in the borough.

The poor state of secondary school buildings is also causing concern.

A full consultation with school governors, staff and parents is to be carried out to decide how to tackle the problems.

A spokesman for the authority refused to comment last night on whether some schools would be shut down.

"I don't know and couldn't comment on that," he said. The Department for Education and Skills (DfES) has published a consultation paper telling all local authorities to look at rebuilding and refurbishing secondary schools within ten to 15 years, starting from 2005.

Secondary school rolls are currently at their highest level in Darlington but are expected to begin a gradual decline in January.

Long-term trend analysis suggests that by 2014 only 5,200 secondary school places will be needed for 11 to 16-year-olds, compared to the 6,633 needed now.

The council spokesman said: "By 2014 we are going to have empty classroom places to the tune of 22 per cent of the present capacity.

"The other problem is the poor state of our secondary schools. We are spending millions to keep them in a decent state of repair."

Geoff Pennington, the authority's director of education, said: "The DfES consultation offers fantastic opportunities for all local authorities to assess and improve all of their secondary school buildings.

"Like all other local authorities, here in Darlington we are beginning that programme of assessment to establish all of our options and identify all of our opportunities.

"But it is far too early to make any detailed comment until we have carried out full and comprehensive consultations."

Terry Bladen, national president of the teaching union Nasuwt and a teacher at Eastbourne School, welcomed the review.

"If they can use it as an opportunity to build new schools then all to the good," he said.

"Darlington has shown itself to be a good employer and we know we will be part of the review."

Durham County Council has already carried out a major review of primary schools to reduce surplus places. Nine schools in the county now face closure.